Operation Krivaja '95'

Operation Krivaja '95'
Conflict	Operation Krivaja '95
Partof	Bosnian War
Date	July–September 1995
Place	Srebrenica region, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Result	Capture of Srebrenica enclave by Bosnian Serb forces
Combatant1	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Combatant2	Army of Republika Srpska
Commander1	Naser Orić; Sefer Halilović
Commander2	Ratko Mladić; General Radislav Krstić
Strength1	Bosnian government units, local Bosniak defenders, civilian population
Strength2	Army of Republika Srpska corps, paramilitary units, territorial defense
Casualties1	thousands killed, many captured
Casualties2	military losses reported, prisoners taken

Operation Krivaja '95' was a military offensive conducted in mid‑1995 that culminated in the capture of the Srebrenica enclave and surrounding areas by Bosnian Serb forces. The operation occurred within the broader context of the Bosnian War and intersected with events such as the Srebrenica massacre, the Siege of Sarajevo, and concurrent operations elsewhere in eastern Bosnia. It involved principal actors including the Army of Republika Srpska, the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, political leadership from Republika Srpska, and international institutions such as the United Nations Protection Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Background

In 1992–1995 the Bosnian War divided Bosnia and Herzegovina into contested enclaves, with Srebrenica declared a UN "safe area" under United Nations Security Council resolutions and the mandate of UNPROFOR. The enclave had strategic importance for the Army of Republika Srpska and symbolic significance for the Bosniak population and the Party of Democratic Action. Key figures shaping the conflict included military leaders like Ratko Mladić and political authorities in Republika Srpska such as Radovan Karadžić, while international diplomacy featured actors like Boutros Boutros‑Ghali and representatives of European Community and United States Department of State policy. Prior offensives in eastern Bosnia, including battles around Srebrenica, Žepa, and Tuzla, had already altered front lines and civilian demographics.

Prelude to the Operation

In the months preceding the offensive, Bosnian Serb command consolidated units from corps including the Drina Corps and coordinated with paramilitary formations linked to figures like Arkan and elements associated with the Serbian Ministry of Defence. Intelligence, logistics, and artillery preparations were reported in sectors surrounding Srebrenica and the Drina River corridor. International monitoring by UNPROFOR and diplomatic initiatives such as ceasefire talks involving the Contact Group (Bosnia) failed to halt escalatory maneuvers. The Bosnian government, under military direction from leaders such as Sefer Halilović and local commanders like Naser Orić, faced shortages in heavy weaponry and constrained supply lines due to encirclement, while humanitarian agencies including International Committee of the Red Cross documented refugee movements and civilian vulnerabilities.

Course of the Operation

The offensive commenced with concentrated artillery barrages, combined arms maneuvers, and infantry advances designed to encircle Srebrenica and sever escape routes toward Tuzla and Žepa. Units of the Army of Republika Srpska employed tactics refined during prior engagements such as the Battle of Visegrad and the Podrinje operations, coordinating with territorial defense and reconnaissance units. Despite declared UN protection, air interdiction was limited until later international responses, and ground forces overcame defensive positions held by Bosnian government detachments and local militias. As the enclave fell, large numbers of residents attempted flight through woods and along mountain routes toward Bosnian government‑held territory and checkpoints manned by UN forces. The sequence of events mirrored patterns observed in operations like the Fall of Srebrenica narratives, with frontline units securing key junctions and transport arteries.

Atrocities and War Crimes Allegations

Following the capture of the enclave, allegations emerged regarding mass executions, enforced disappearances, detention sites, and grave excavations. Reports by humanitarian organizations including Amnesty International, documentation by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and later investigations by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia compiled evidence of systematic abuses. Individuals and units tied to the offensive were implicated in criminal acts investigated under statutes codified in international law bodies such as the ICTY Statute, with particular attention to events constituting crimes against humanity and genocide as defined in the Genocide Convention. Witness testimony, forensic exhumations, and military documentation formed the core of prosecutorial dossiers.

Military and Political Aftermath

The operation reshaped control over eastern Bosnia, enabling the Army of Republika Srpska to consolidate territorial gains and influence subsequent ceasefire negotiations. Politically, the offensive intensified international pressure, catalyzing diplomatic initiatives by actors including the United States, European Union, and NATO that preceded the Dayton Agreement. The loss of Srebrenica had consequences for leadership legitimacy within the Party of Democratic Action and the political calculus of figures like Radovan Karadžić and Biljana Plavšić. Militarily, lessons from the operation informed later campaigns and the international community's decision to escalate military and diplomatic engagement in Bosnia.

Investigations and Trials

Investigations into alleged war crimes involved institutions such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, national prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and courts in Serbia. High‑profile prosecutions targeted military and political leaders, resulting in convictions for offenses including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; notable trials involved figures associated with the Army of Republika Srpska leadership. Forensic work by teams from organizations like the International Commission on Missing Persons aided in identifying remains, supporting prosecutions and reparations claims. Appeals, retrials, and post‑conviction reviews continued to shape legal outcomes and international jurisprudence related to mass atrocity accountability.

Category:Bosnian War Category:1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:War crimes trials