PUBLICATION: ProjectWorking study
Direct and Indirect Costs of Ammunition Depot Explosions in Serbia
The sites of the explosions at the "Karadjordjevo hill" in Paracin, which took place in October 2006, and tragedy at the section "Pit" in factory "First Partizan" near the city of Uzice which occurred in September 2009, were taken as samples for this case study.
Besides causes of the incidents, casualties and damage caused by them, BCSP research team examined citizens awareness of the incidents, and the citizens, local actors and the government immediate reaction to the incident.
CASE PARACIN
Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) ammunition depot, located on the “Karadjordjevo” hill 3 kilometres from the centre of Paracin, exploded on October 19, 2006 at 03.50hrs. Before NATO’s armed intervention in 1999, the depot complex included 20 objects, of which 17 were destroyed in the bombing. In the aftermath of the bombing, the depot consisted of 6 objects intended for storing ammunition and 5 support objects. All in all, over 4110 of explosive ordnance (3150 tons in objects and 960 tons in the open) was stored in the depot.
CASE UZICE
Prvi partizan Uzice (PPU) ammunition factory, underground gunpowder filling facility “Rupa” (“The Hole” in Serbian), 3 kilometres east to the town centre, explosion occurred about 21.15hrs, on September 2, 2009. Seven people died of suffocating by inhaling enormous amounts of smoke, and further 15 of them were injured. No material damage had been done, apart to the facility which was completely destroyed in the blast.
PDF PREVIEW
RELATED
Date: 26.06.2026.
Author: Gorana Pebić |
The analysis explores how far-right Telegram channels instrumentalise opposition to the Rio Tinto project and lithium mining in Serbia to amplify their pre-existing nationalist and anti-Western narratives.
Date: 25.06.2026.
Author: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
For the population of Serbia, this issue is exacerbated by the existing problems of galloping privatisation and destruction of public goods, especially natural resources. In the last decade, two sides of the environment have emerged and intensified in the local public.
Date: 26.03.2025.
Author: Isidora Stakić |
Human rights defenders are people who act, individually or jointly, to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms and fight for their protection at the local, national and international levels.
