Army of the Republika Srpska
| Army of Republika Srpska Војска Републике Српске (ВРС) Vojska Republike Srpske (VRS) |
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Emblem of the Army of Republika Srpska
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| Size | 80,000 soldiers (during the Bosnian War) |
| Garrison/HQ | Banja Luka, Republika Srpska |
| Anniversaries | 1992 (founded), 2001 (re-organisation) |
| Engagements |
Bosnian War Croatian War of Independence |
| Disbanded | 2006 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Ratko Mladić (1992–1996) |
The Army of Republika Srpska (Serbian: Војска Републике Српске (ВРС); Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian Vojska Republike Srpske (VRS)), also referred to as the Bosnian Serb Army, was the military of the Republika Srpska, an area which was previously the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina".
In 2003 the army began to integrate into the Armed 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 in Iraq. On 6 June 2006, it was fully integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina controlled by the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) was founded on 12 May 1992 from the remnants of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from which Bosnia and Herzegovina had seceded the same year. When the Bosnian War erupted, the JNA formally discharged 80,000 Bosnian Serb troops. These troops, who were allowed to keep their heavy weapons, formed the backbone of the newly formed Army of the Republika Srpska. Aside from being made up almost entirely of Serb Orthodox officers and recruits from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the VRS also utilized the services of approximately 4,000 foreign Orthodox Christian volunteers to participate in combat operations during the Bosnian War. 1,000-1,500 of these came from Russia, and Bulgaria, with 700 volunteers originating from Russia specifically. 100 Greeks also volunteered to fight on the side of the Bosnian Serbs, forming the Greek Volunteer Guard which allegedly participated in the Srebrenica massacre. The Army of Republika Srpska were a main belligerent in the Bosnian War, and were responsible for thousands of deaths, including the massacre of around 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in Srebenica in July 1995.
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