The NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, confirmed that it has received a request from Serbia regarding the deployment of up to 1,000 Serbian military and police troops in Kosovo. "We are currently examining" this request, it was said in KFOR's response.

"KFOR continues to be extremely alert and fully capable of fulfilling its mission emanating from the United Nations," the mission added. 

On December 15, the authorities in Serbia announced that they have decided to turn to KFOR with a request for the deployment of troops in Kosovo. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated that it is clear that the request will be rejected. 

Serbia has made this request invoking Resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council, as tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have increased in recent days. 

Even the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Serbia, Milosh Vucevic, has confirmed that KFOR has received a request for sending up to 1,000 Serbian army and police troops to Kosovo. 

Serbia's request comes at a time of increasing tensions in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs. Since December 6, several incidents involving firearms, hand grenades and grenades have been recorded. 

On December 10, in protest at the arrest of a former Serbian policeman, some local Serbs erected barricades, blocking the main roads leading to the border crossings in Jarinje and Bernjak, which connect Kosovo with Serbia.