“Like a boa constrictor.” Russia criticizes the military exercise in Serbia in which eight NATO countries participate, including Romania

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Serbia's annual “Platinum Wolf” exercise, accusing NATO of trying to subdue Serbia “like a boa constrictor,” Reuters reported.

The representative of Russian diplomacy claims that NATO wants to take control of the Balkans and distance Serbia from Russia.

“They wrap their love around Serbia like a boa constrictor,” she told reporters wryly.

Russia has traditionally had strong relations with Serbia, which was subjected to a NATO bombing campaign in 1999 during the Kosovo war.

Romania and seven other NATO countries at the military exercise in Serbia

Serbian authorities say the annual Platinum Wolf exercise, which began on June 1 with the support of the US European Command, aims to “strengthen competence and mutual understanding” among the participating countries, which include eight NATO members.

The event will end on June 13, and more than 550 members of the Serbian armed forces and the armed forces from Romania, the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Greece, North Macedonia and Montenegro, Azerbaijan and Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively, will take part in it, according to the description on the official website of the Serbian army.

Serbia has been hosting the Platinum Wolf exercises since 2014.

“In addition to improving the capabilities of commands and units, by participating in international exercises, the Serbian Armed Forces simultaneously confirm our country's commitment to cooperation with all partners and the maintenance of peace and stability,” the statement on the institution's website reads.