Offensive in Podrinje (1993)

The offensive in Podrinje was the response of the VRS to the attack on Višegrad by the ARBiH.[1][2] The position of Višegrad was inconvenient due to the artillery attack of the ARBiH. The VRS decided to carry out the last offensive for the security of Višegrad, the VRS would push the ARBiH away from the vicinity of Višegrad and all the way to the vicinity of Goražde.

Offensive in Podrinje (1993)
Part of the Bosnian War

VRS offensive near Višegrad
Date26 May – 8 June 1993.
Location
Result Army of Republika Srpska Victory
Belligerents
 Bosnia and Herzegovina  Republika Srpska
Russian volunteer units in Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Ferid Buljubasić Republika Srpska Milenko Lazić
Strength
4.000 6.000

The course of the battle

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In order to place Višegrad under a safe zone as soon as possible, the command of the VRS Drina Corps is looking for additional forces, and at the end of May, the 1st Guards Motorized Brigade, well proven in the battles around Srebrenica, was transferred to the Višegrad TG. A new attempt to repel the Muslim forces near Višegrad was launched on May 26, when units of the 1st, 2nd and 5th Podrinja Light Brigades led by Colonel Milenko Lazić attacked the positions of the 1st Rogatica and 1st Višegrad Brigades of the ARBiH. Within two days, Serbian fighters broke the Muslim defenses southeast of Rogatica and on May 31 occupied the village of Međeđa, where the ARBiH Headquarters was located, and reached the suburbs of Ustiprača. By June, four Serbian brigades finish clearing the territory of the remains of enemy soldiers. The new front line was established on the Prača River and five kilometers southwest of Rogatica. The next task of TG Višegrad was to eliminate the ARBiH bridgehead on the right bank of the Drina, between Goražde and Čajnič. Part of the 1st Guards Motorized Brigade and the 3rd Podrinje Light Brigade attack the 43rd Drina Brigade of the ARBiH, and the fighting lasts from June 2 to 8. Considering that very little progress was made, the offensive was suspended. Russian volunteers provided support in the battles with the VRS against the ARBiH.[3][4] In the VRS offensive, ARBiH lost about 200 km2.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "ОДБРАМБЕНО-ОТАЏБИНСКИ РАТ 1991-1995". odbrambeno-otadzbinskirat.blogspot.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  2. ^ "Borbe kod Višegrada i Rudog 1993. godine | Katera". katera.news (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  3. ^ "Ko su ruski dobrovoljci i plaćenici koji su ratovali u Višegradu: Sudionici zvjerstava i pljački". www.klix.ba (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  4. ^ "Uloga ruskih dobrovoljaca u agresiji na BiH | Preporod.info". preporod.info (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  5. ^ Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-16-066472-4.