On Tuesday, Major General Özkan Ulutaş assumed the role of Commander of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, at a time when tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are running high following an attack in the northern part of the country last month.
This marks the first instance of KFOR being led by a Turkish commander.
Ulutaş took over from the outgoing Italian commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, during a ceremony in Pristina, becoming the 28th commander of the NATO mission in Kosovo since 1999.
In his remarks after assuming the role, Ulutaş expressed, “As the first Turkish commander of KFOR, I understand the responsibility I have undertaken. Considering the sensitive situation in Kosovo, I am taking command with dedication to make every effort and use all the experience to ensure that this distinguished unit will continue to serve successfully in the future, as it has done in the past”.
On September 24, Kosovo Police faced an attack by an armed group of Serbs in the village of Banjska, located in the municipality of Zvecan, resulting in the tragic death of officer Afrim Bunjaku. Subsequent clashes at the village’s monastery led to the deaths of three Serb attackers.
Serbia has vehemently denied Kosovo’s allegations that it was responsible for the attack, which Kosovar authorities labeled as an “attempt to annex the northern part of Kosovo”.
The claim of responsibility for the Banjska attack was made by Milan Radojičić, the former leader of the Serb List, the principal political party representing Serbs in Kosovo with the backing of Belgrade. On October 3, Radojičić was detained, interrogated, and held in police custody for up to 48 hours before being released a day later.
Who is Ulutaş?
Ulutaş embarked on his military journey after completing his high school education in 1985 and subsequently attending the Military Academy in 1989.
Since 2021, he has been serving as the Director for Strategy at the Turkish General Staff. Prior to that, he held the position of Commander of NATO’s Rapid Reaction Force in Turkey.
Throughout his career, Ulutaş has occupied various key military roles, including Deputy Commander of the NATO Joint Command Sector in Norfolk, Director of the Center for Military History Studies in Ankara, and Deputy Commander of the 28th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Garrison.
