The Kremlin and its affiliates continue to push to use Russia's relationship with Republika Srpska, which is the Serbian political entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, to destabilize the Balkans.
This is stated in an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
At the opening of the Russian embassy in Banja Luka on June 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the relations between Russia and Republika Srpska are at an extremely high level.
Lavrov said that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will prioritize the construction of religious and cultural institutions in Banja Luka, which are crucial for strengthening "fraternal ties" between the peoples of Russia and Republika Srpska.
On June 16, in an interview with a Republika Srpska TV channel, a prominent Russian military blogger linked to the Kremlin claimed that Russia would support the independence of the Republika Srpska and that the opening of the Russian embassy in Banja Luka demonstrated the friendship and cooperation between Russia and the Republika Srpska Serbian.
The military blogger claims that Russia may open a Russian cultural center (Russian House) in Republika Srpska. Moldovan and Ukrainian officials have previously warned that Russian officials are using the Russian House to promote Russian propaganda and carry out "subversion" abroad.
In April 2024, the same military blogger channel claimed to have found a "media school" in the Balkans, and that the channel team spent a week in Serbia and Republika Srpska giving lectures on how to manage Telegram channels and combat "disinformation".
On June 7, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik announced that Republika Srpska intends to hold a referendum on its independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina at an unspecified date.
Recently, Russian forces advanced near Volchansk and the city of Donetsk.
The Russian military reportedly continues to force Russian conscripts to sign military service contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), possibly as part of ongoing cryptomobilization efforts.
The majority of countries and international organizations that participated in the Ukraine-initiated World Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15-16 signed a joint communiqué on June 16 reaffirming their support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
A botched prison break and hostage situation at a Russian pre-trial detention center in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, sparked Russian ultra-nationalist complaints, highlighting Russia's failure to tackle domestic Islamic extremism after the Crocus City Hall terror attack on 22 March.