Residents of Stubica were alarmed by a military drill conducted in their streets, raising safety concerns.
- Gunfire during a military exercise alarmed local residents.
- Residents reported lack of communication from soldiers on site.
- The Defense Ministry stated the drill was planned and involved only blank ammunition.
Residents of Stubica in central Serbia said they were alarmed by gunfire during a military exercise held in the village streets on Wednesday night, according to a local woman who contacted N1. She said people in the area were unable to get an explanation from soldiers on the spot and were particularly concerned because children use those streets.
The woman also said some residents had recorded the activity on video but were reluctant to share the footage after being told not to film. The account suggests that the exercise was unexpected for people living there, even though the military later said the activity had been planned.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry said the event was a planned inspection of the operational and functional capabilities of a special military unit. It said the exercise included a tactical scenario designed to test the unit's ability to carry out tasks in an urban setting and that only blank training ammunition was used.
The ministry also said authorities and organizations had been notified in advance about exercises in the wider Pasuljanske Livade area, where military vehicles, drones and training ammunition were to be used. It did not directly respond to the residents' claim that the activity in Stubica appeared to happen without warning or that soldiers did not explain what was taking place.
The incident highlights a recurring issue for communities near military training grounds, where official notices may not always match what people experience on the ground. For residents, the immediate concern is safety and communication, while for the military it is the conduct of scheduled training outside standard barracks.
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Frequently asked questions
What caused alarm among Stubica residents?
Residents were alarmed by unexpected gunfire during a military exercise in their streets.
Did the military inform residents about the drill?
Residents claimed they received no prior notice about the drill, despite the military stating it was planned.
What type of ammunition was used during the exercise?
The Defense Ministry confirmed that only blank training ammunition was used during the military drill.