What Happened in Serbia?
On June 23, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced a full suspension of all weapons and ammunition exports, including shipments from defense manufacturers like Zastava and Krusik. The decision came in response to global pressure and recent controversy around arms shipments potentially ending up in the Israel-Iran conflict and the war in Ukraine.
According to Vučić, “We are not exporting anything at the moment. All exports have been halted.” Going forward, every export decision must go through Serbia’s National Security Council and multiple layers of government approval.
Translation? If you want a Serbian AK-pattern rifle or surplus ammo, you may want to act fast.
How This Affects Zastava Arms and U.S. Buyers
Zastava Arms USA has long been the American importer of Serbia’s iconic rifles—including the ZPAP M70, M77, and M90 rifles. With Serbia shutting off the export tap, there’s no telling when new shipments will arrive.
Zastava rifles have been praised for their cold hammer-forged barrels, beefy 1.5mm receivers, and classic wood or polymer finishes. Whether you're a collector, AK purist, or just want a battle-ready rifle with Eastern European pedigree, this announcement could mark the beginning of a dry spell.
Right now, Gunprime still has Zastava inventory available—but once it’s gone, we may not see a restock for quite some time.
Why Serbia Pulled the Plug
The decision appears to be a combination of internal pressure, international optics, and geopolitical tensions. Vučić mentioned that Serbian weapons had been spotted on both sides of the Ukraine conflict, even though Serbia has never directly supplied arms to Russia or Ukraine. Additionally, questions were raised about exports to Israel following the Hamas attacks in late 2023.
Rather than risk political fallout or international sanctions, Serbia has chosen to keep all domestically produced ammo and weapons “strictly within our own barracks,” as the president put it.
Final Thoughts: Time to Buy?
If you’ve been holding off on that Zastava ZPAP, M70, or M90—this might be your last shot for a while. While existing inventory is still available in the U.S., the supply chain has just been throttled at the source. Prices are likely to rise as demand surges and availability shrinks.
👉 Check out our in-stock Zastava rifles and ammo before they’re gone.
Browse Zastava Inventory on Gunprime →
✅ Article reviewed: 06/25/2025
Author: Makenzie DeLoach
Secretary & Marketing Strategist at Gunprime
