ANKARA/PRISTINA, Kosovo 

All barricades that were erected by Serbs living in Kosovo's northern region bordering Serbia have been removed, Kosovo’s interior minister said late Monday.

Barricades on the roads were removed and the Jarinje and Brnjak border crossings are open for citizens, Xhelal Svecla said on Facebook.

Masked groups wielding guns "led by Belgrade and coming from Serbia" attacked Kosovar citizens, he claimed.

They also opened fire at police officers, he added.

Svecia added that they thwarted a cyberattack and all government systems have been protected.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, commenting on the latest developments in the region, told Radio and Television of Serbia late Sunday that the sides returned from "the brink of a disaster," and added: "The worst-case scenario has been avoided.”

“Some obviously want to see Russia's attack on Ukraine as an opportunity. They are trying to make Serbia look connected to Russia and depict Vucic as 'the little Putin' who is attracting the reaction of the West,” he said.

Vucic also noted that he will travel to Brussels on Aug. 18 to meet with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but argued that it was not possible to achieve peace with the premier.

Stating that he has always advocated peace, the Serbian president stressed: "But I will also not stay silent when someone crosses borders against Serbs.”

“Kosovo is not an independent country, so there can be no such thing as an attack on Kosovo. Kosovo is part of Serbia according to international law,” he asserted.

He emphasized that Serbs are not preparing for a war with the Bosniaks either, noting that they are extending their hands to everyone.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo escalated Sunday ahead of Kosovo’s planned implementation of a new law making it mandatory for everyone, including Serbs living in Kosovo, to have a Kosovo ID card and license plate.

Later Sunday, Kosovo announced that it had decided to delay the new measures until Sept. 1.

Vucic called for dialogue on Sunday to resolve the issues with Kosovo.

Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Albanians, broke away from Serbia in 1999 and declared its independence in 2008. It is recognized by more than 100 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Türkiye. Serbia has not recognized and continues to lay claim to the territory.

* Writing by Burak Bir and Merve Berker.