UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, January 8, 2026

Floods from heavy rainfall cause major damage in several cities in Kosovo (media)
Vetevendosje reaches 51 percent of total vote, Kurti gets over 400,000 votes (Koha)
Osmani and Kurti’s messages on Orthodox Christmas (media)
COMKFOR Ulutas hosts Osmani, discuss security situation (media)
Rudolph: Kosovo cannot afford to lose another year (media)
Mitrovica North unable to install Christmas banner pending ministry decision (Kossev)
Kosovo receives anti-tank missile systems from Turkey (Turkiye Today)
25 years of KFOR in Kosovo: Rochdale hosts photography exhibition (Rochdale.gov.uk)

Floods from heavy rainfall cause major damage in several cities in Kosovo (media)

The focus of the media has been on the critical situation with floods in several regions of Kosovo after heavy rainfall for several days. On Tuesday, the floods caused damage to properties and infrastructure, while many families have been evacuated from their homes in the most affected areas. No victims or injuries have been reported.

Kosovo’s Emergency Management Agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the situation can deteriorate in case of new rainfall, but that the current situation is manageable with sufficient reaction capacities. The agency also called on people to avoid the regions that are more affected by the heavy rainfall and floods.

The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) said that their teams have intervened to save lives after requests from the Situation Center of Kosovo. “KSF units stand ready to support the civilian authorities with their capacities,” the KSF said in a statement.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani visited the municipality of Gjakova on Wednesday after the heavy rainfall and the floods there and met with mayor Ardian Gjini and his team. She also visited families that were affected by the floods. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Gjakova and the municipality … Some families have been affected by this situation, and we will work together to overcome this. Mayor Gjini informed us about the measures that have been taken. We will be there to cooperate because every challenge can be overcome when we work together,” she said.

In a post on X, Osmani said she was grateful to all our institutions and citizens who, in the face of today’s heavy rainfall and flooding in Kosovo, are responding with responsibility, professionalism, and solidarity to protect lives and property. “Throughout the day, I have remained in close communication with the mayors of the affected municipalities, who are leading on-the-ground management of the situation in close coordination with the support of national institutions,” she said.

Kosovo’s authorities on Wednesday evening called for caution in traffic after dropping temperatures and snowfall. The Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute (KHMI) warned of sub-zero temperatures that are expected to result in freezing roads. Kosovo Police have appealed to people to be careful in traffic. “Your safety is a priority. Increased care helps avoid accidents and save lives,” police said in a post on social media.

Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in a Facebook post on Wednesday night, appealed to people to avoid traveling by vehicles due to possible frost on the roads.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said in a statement on Tuesday that due to the situation caused by the floods in several parts of Kosovo, the second school semester will begin on January 12, and not on January 8 as initially planned.

Senior member and MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Hykmete Bajrami said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that the caretaker government must secure emergency funds after the floods in several parts of Kosovo. She said that the government must also draft a strategy and form a budget that would help affected families and businesses.

Vetevendosje reaches 51 percent of total vote, Kurti gets over 400,000 votes (Koha)

The Vetevendosje Movement (VV) reached 51 percent of the total vote after the Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted votes from 99.93 percent of ballot boxes. VV candidate for Prime Minister Albin Kurti has won over 400,000 votes, setting the record as the most voted politician in Kosovo’s history, the news website reported on Wednesday. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is ranked second with 20.24 percent of the total vote, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 13.26 percent, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) with 5.51 percent.

Valmir Elezi, spokesperson for the Central Election Commission, told a press conference on Wednesday that another 3.185 packages with postal ballots have to arrive in Kosovo.

Osmani and Kurti’s messages on Orthodox Christmas (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in a post on X on Wednesday wished “the Orthodox Christian citizens in Kosovo, and Orthodox believers around the world, a blessed and peaceful Christmas. May this holy day bring peace, good health, and harmony to your families. Christmas reminds us of the enduring values of love, solidarity, and respect for one another. These values gain meaning when reflected in our daily actions. Merry Orthodox Christmas!”

Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X: “May this sacred day bring warmth, love, and joy to your families and may the spirit of solidarity and the pursuit of the common good guide us all”.

COMKFOR Ulutas hosts Osmani, discuss security situation (media)

Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Ozkan Ulutas, hosted Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, on Wednesday, and highlighted KFOR’s steadfast commitment to continue contributing to security across Kosovo and to regional stability. “He also underscored KFOR’s readiness to enhance effective coordination and cooperation with Kosovo’s institutions in particular the Kosovo Police,” KFOR said in a Facebook post.

Rudolph: Kosovo cannot afford to lose another year (media)

Several news websites cover an op-ed that German Ambassador to Kosovo, Rainer Rudolph, wrote for Koha Ditore’s festive edition. Rudolph said that “Kosovo urgently needs a fully mandated government that can speak for the country internationally and take and implement decisions domestically. I write these lines before the December 28 elections, so I hope that a government can swiftly be formed in early 2026. It is one thing that this year’s stalemate cost the country money in international funds that could have been allocated. What is worse and I am not sure everyone here fully appreciates: This last year really weighed on Kosovo’s international reputation. The country cannot afford to lose another year”.

Rudolph also said that “from a new government, we need a strong commitment to the EU-led normalization dialogue. The smooth local elections and the handing-over of municipal administrations to the newly elected mayors in the north were definitely encouraging in that regard. Ultimately, all communities in the country need to feel at home in a multi-ethnic Kosovo”.

Read the full op-ed at: https://shorturl.at/3dsuo

Mitrovica North unable to install Christmas banner pending ministry decision (Kossev)

Representatives of the Municipality of North Mitrovica, led by Mayor Milan Radojevic, were unable on Tuesday to install a banner reading “Peace of God, Christ Is Born,” Kosovo Police Deputy Commander for the North region, Veton Elshani, confirmed to KoSSev.

Elshani explained that Kosovo Police received information earlier in the day that municipal officials were attempting to place the banner.

According to him, the banner featured the message “Peace of God, Christ Is Born,” along with the insignia of the Serbian List party and the colors of the Serbian flag.

Following discussions with municipal representatives at the site and later at the police station, Elshani said officials were informed that a request must be submitted to Kosovo’s Ministry of Local Government Administration in order to install the banner.

He added that the Municipality of North Mitrovica subsequently sent a formal request to the Ministry, noting that Kosovo Police also forwarded a request regarding the banner. However, Elshani stated that no decision was received from the Ministry during the day, which is why the banner was not installed.

KoSSev later asked Kosovo Police why it was necessary for the municipality to seek permission to place a banner within its own administrative territory, and under whose order police acted to prevent municipal officials from installing it. By the time of publication, no response had been received.

Kosovo receives anti-tank missile systems from Turkey (Turkiye Today)

Kosovo has received Roketsan's OMTAS medium-range anti-tank missile system, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced on Tuesday. “Stronger, safer: Turkish-made OMTAS is part of our army's arsenal,” Kurti said on his social media account.

Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci said the delivery was received under a contract signed with Turkish defense manufacturer Roketsan in December 2023. “OMTAS is a modern medium-range anti-tank missile system developed to neutralize modern armored vehicles, including tanks with reactive armor, as well as military fortifications,” Maqedonci said. “Increasing the variety and quantity of anti-tank missile systems for our army aims to cover different range distances, terrain conditions and threat scenarios, and to increase operational flexibility”.