On the evening of March 15, 2025, the Serbian capital Belgrade became the scene of the largest protests in decades, with eyewitnesses estimating that more than half a million people took to the streets. Opposition media claimed that the number of participants could exceed a million, although official figures have not yet been confirmed. The protesters, demanding the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic and the government, began using smoke bombs and flares, which dramatically escalated the situation. Thick clouds of smoke rose over the city, and police moved additional forces, including special forces and armored vehicles, to the center to contain the crowd.

Tensions in the country have been rising for five months, since November 2024, when a canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station killed 15 people and sparked a wave of discontent over corruption and government inaction. However, the events of March 15 took the crisis to a new level. During the day, a car crashed into a group of protesters in the Žarkovo district, injuring three students. The driver tried to escape, but was detained by the police. The victims were taken to hospital with moderate injuries, their condition is stable. This incident only added fuel to the fire, increasing the anger of demonstrators, who accuse the government of failing to ensure the safety of citizens.

Current information from open sources confirms the scale of the protests. According to Reuters, by Saturday evening more than 100 people had gathered in central Belgrade, and they were joined by columns of students and farmers from other cities, including Novi Sad and Nis. Associated Press reports that demonstrators blocked key highways, and barricades of tractors appeared in front of the parliament. The authorities made attempts to prevent the protests: in the morning, police blocked approaches to the capital, and in the afternoon there were reports of false bomb threats at train stations. President Vucic, commenting on the situation, spoke of “Western interference” and promised a tough response to any unrest.