After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries around the world were forced to take sides. Most in the West sided with Ukraine, but in Serbia, a country with its own recent history of war, a sizeable pro-Russian nationalist movement began to become more visible. These groups not only align themselves with Moscow, but also present a clearly anti-Western perspective.

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Just over a week after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, thousands of Serbs took to the streets of Belgrade. They waved Russian flags and held the pro-war Z signs and portraits of the Russian president Vladimir Putin. The organiser of the protest, Damjan Knezevic, took to the stage calling for Serbs to support Russians.

To understand why, reporter Jovana Geogievski, working with BBC Eye Investigations, followed the ultra-nationalist Knezevic over the next year. With rare access, the team revealed their ties to Russia and Wagner as well as the reasons behind their ideology.

Here are some key moments from the film:

00:00 Intro
00:27 The pro-Russia Serbians
01:58 Serbian nationalist Damjan Knezevic on supporting Russia
04:42 Knezevic’s People’s Patrol
07:33 History of Serbia-Kosovo war and NATO bombing
09:34 Knezevic’s views, background and links to Wagner
11:30 What is the Wagner mercenary group?
17:13 Pro-Russian rally in Belgrade
19:35 Serbian President Vučić responds
20:08 Knezevic’s arrest
20:47 Who is Sanja Vujanović of the Dveri party?
22:24 Serbia’s mass shootings changing the course
25:25 Credits

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