| Army of Republika Srpska | |
|---|---|
| Војска Републике Српске Vojska Republike Srpske | |
 | |
| Military leader | Ratko Mladić[1] |
| Political leader | Radovan Karadžić[2] |
| Dates of operation | 1992–2006 |
| Split from |  Yugoslav People's Army |
| Merged into |  Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Allegiance |  Republika Srpska |
| Motives | Independence ofRepublika Srpska (until 1995) |
| Headquarters | Pale,Bijeljina,Banja Luka |
| Size | 250,000 by formation[3] 155,000 (1995)[4] |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | Bosnian War: |
| Colours | Red Blue White |
| Patch |  |
| Helmet decal | .svg) |
TheArmy of Republika Srpska (Serbian:Војска Републике Српске, ВРС,romanized: Vojska Republike Srpske,VRS), commonly referred to in English as theBosnian Serb Army,[5] was themilitary ofRepublika Srpska, the self-proclaimedsecessionist republic, a territory within the newly independentBosnia and Herzegovina (formerly part ofYugoslavia), which it defied and fought against. Active during theBosnian War from 1992 to 1995, the Bosnian Serb Army under GeneralRatko Mladić became the most proficient military force in theBalkans, as well as one of the most reviled armies in the world.[6] After the war it continued to exist as the armed forces ofRepublika Srpska, one of two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, until 2006 when it was integrated into theArmed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the conflict, the Bosnian Serb Army conducted several major operations, includingOperation Corridor 92,Operation Vrbas '92,Operation Lukavac,Operation Shield '94, andOperation Spider; The army also took part in theSiege of Sarajevo, the longest siege in the history of modern warfare, as well as in theSrebrenica massacre.[7]
The Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) was founded on 12 May 1992 from the remnants of theYugoslav People's Army (JNA) of the formerSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from whichBosnia and Herzegovina had seceded earlier in 1992. When theBosnian War erupted, the JNA formally discharged 80,000Bosnian Serb troops. These troops, who were allowed to keep their heavy weapons, formed the core of what would become the Army of the Republika Srpska, benefiting from access to significant JNA stockpiles and infrastructure.[8]
The VRS was made up largely of ethnic Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also attracted around 4,000 foreignOrthodox Christian fighters, many of whom were drawn by nationalist or religious motivations. 700 such fighters came fromRussia, and 300–800 fromBulgaria.[9][10] 100Greeks also volunteered to fight on the side of the Bosnian Serbs, forming theGreek Volunteer Guard which allegedly participated in theSrebrenica massacre.[11] A number ofRomanians andUkrainians fought as well on the Bosnian Serb side.[12]
After the war, the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina had two armies, that of the VRS and theArmy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VFBiH). VFBiH was itself composed of two elements, the ARBiH and HVO. The two armies functioned without a common command, on the principle of "non-intervention in the affairs of the other".Bisera Turković noted that it was 'therefore questionable whether in say a foreign attack on Sarajevo [...the VRS] would defend this capital city'. The existence of the two separate armies was one of the factors impeding civil-military relations development.[13] The VRS conducted demining.[14]
In 2003 the army began to integrate into theArmed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2005 a fully integrated unit of Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats was deployed to augment the US-led coalition forces inIraq.[15] On 6 June 2006, it was fully integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina controlled by the Ministry of Defence ofBosnia and Herzegovina.[16][17]
The supreme commander of the VRS was GeneralRatko Mladić.[18]The Command of the Army of Republika Srpska was organized into several key sectors and departments:
Closest advisors to General Mladić were Milovanović (operations and planning), Tolimir (intelligence), Gvero (political affairs), and Đukić (logistics).[19] According to opinion of some experts who studied the course of theBosnian War, the Command of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska proved to be the most capable military leadership among the participants in the war:
The Main Staff, although composed of various officers arriving from different commands, developed during the war into the most professional staff and planning body among the warring parties in the Bosnian War.[19]
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TheInternational Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia stated that:
"In July 1995, the Armed Forces of the Republika Srpska were under the command and control of the Commander-in-Chief,Radovan Karadžić. His headquarters was in Pale.[20]
Within the framework of the VRS, immediately subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, was the Main Staff of the VRS, headquartered in Han Pijesak and commanded by General Ratko Mladić. It was the responsibility of the Commander of the Main Staff to issue regulations, orders and instructions regarding the implementation of orders by the Commander-in-Chief, and to discharge the command duties delegated to him by the Commander-in-Chief. The Main Staff of the VRS consisted of staff officers and staff support personnel, as well as some specialised military units such as the 65th Protection Regiment, designed to provide protection and combat services for the Main Staff; and the 10th Sabotage Detachment, a unit trained for operations behind enemy lines and other special combat assignments.
The vast majority of the fighting force of the VRS itself was divided into six geographically-based Corps, all subordinate to, and under the command of, General Mladić and, in turn, the Commander-in-Chief, Radovan Karadzic. In July 1995, the six Corps were the Drina Corps, the 1st Krajina Corps, the 2nd Krajina Corps, the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps, the Hercegovina Corps and the East Bosnia Corps."
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Formerly known asRatno Vazduhoplovstva i Protiv Vazdušna Odbrana Vojske Republike Srpske orRV i PVO RS. Beginning on 1 June 2004, theRepublika Srpska Air Force was officially called,Prvi Puk Vazduhoplovstva i Protiv Vazdušna Odbrana Vojske Republike Srpske, also known as 1st Aviation Regiment and Air Defence Force of the Republic of Srpska's Army.
On 12 May 1992, Ratko MLADIC was appointed Commander of the Main Staff of the VRS, a position he held until at least 22 December 1996. On 24 June 1994, Ratko MLADIC was promoted to the rank of General Colonel.
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