This paper examines how the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) is portrayed in existing research and media discourse, primarily as a major conduit of Russian influence in the Western Balkans through narratives tied to the Kremlin’s “Russian World” project and hybrid warfare activities.

The war in Ukraine has reverberated across the Western Balkans in ways that reflect the region’s own political dynamics more than the influence of any external actor, including Russia. In Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, media coverage and public narratives surrounding the conflict have been shaped primarily by domestic political realities, local media structures, and long-standing identity divides.

September School under the title "Russia's Soft Power in Serbia and the Balkans: Busting Myths and Confronting Facts", organised by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy in partnership with the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BPB), was held at the hotel Fruške Terme from 20-24 September.