A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76 firefighting aircraft completed 46 sorties in Serbia between 19 August and 5 September, dropping 1,932 tonnes of water on wildfires, according to the ministry.
The aircraft was deployed to Serbia on 19 August following a request from the Serbian authorities. It was tasked with supporting local firefighting services in areas where ground-based equipment could not reach the fire fronts.
The latest operations were conducted on 5 September, when the Il-76 flew six sorties and released 252 tonnes of water over fire areas on Mount Trem in the Suva Planina mountain range in south-eastern Serbia. The MChS said the main fire fronts in the country had subsequently been brought under control, preventing the fires from reaching populated areas.
The aircraft also operated in difficult conditions earlier in the deployment. On 21 August it conducted five sorties and dropped 210 tonnes of water, while MChS Ka-32 helicopters supported firefighting operations. Temperatures above 40°C, a lack of rainfall and low water levels in the Danube complicated the response.
On 23 August, Russian firefighting teams worked against major fire fronts in the Deliblato Sands nature reserve and mountainous areas near Kraljevo. The Il-76 flew four sorties that day, releasing 168 tonnes of water.
The Il-76 is equipped with specialised aerial firefighting equipment and can release up to 42 tonnes of water during a single sortie. Its deployment formed part of a joint response with Serbian emergency services and volunteers as wildfires spread across the country during a period of severe heat.
The Serbian wildfire situation had deteriorated sharply from late July, with large fires threatening populated areas and infrastructure.
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