List of massacres during the Croatian War of Independence


The following is a list of massacres that occurred in the Croatian War of Independence. Numbers may be approximate.
NameDateLocationDeathsNotes
Borovo Selo massacre2 May 1991Borovo Selo12Croatian policemen killed at Borovo Selo by Serb paramilitaries. Some of them were found to have been mutilated, their ears cut, their eyes gouged out and their throats slit.
Killings of Serbs in VukovarMay–July 1991Vukovar and surroundings43–120Kidnappings and summary executions of ethnic Serbs living in and near Vukovar during the summer of 1991 by forces associated with the Croatian National Guard under the command of Tomislav Merčep.
Sisak killingsJuly 1991 – June 1992Sisak24–107Illegal detainment, torture and killings of at least 24 Serbian civilians from Sisak by members of the HV and police forces. Other reports claim that up to 107 Serbian civilians were murdered or disappeared during this time period
Tenja massacreJuly–November 1991Tenja29Members of the Serbian Volunteer Guard, Yugoslav People's Army forces, and local Serb Tetritorial Defense and police units killed 29 Croat civilians the village of Tenja.
Osijek killingsJuly–December 1991Osijek11Serb civilians killed by Croat paramilitaries, led by Branimir Glavaš.
Operation Stinger26–27 July 1991Banovina22Forces of the SAO Krajina, an unrecognized Croatian Serb region, killed 22 Croat civilians as well as captured policemen in Glina, Kozibrod and Struga, where the rebel Serb forces employed a human shield consisting of Croat civilians taken from their homes in Struga and the nearby village of Zamlača.
Struga and Kuljani killings26 July 1991Struga and Kuljani, near Dvor17Rebel Serb forces killed seventeen Croat civilians in Struga and Kuljani, near Dvor. This is reportedly believed to be the first mass-killings of civilians during the Croatian War of Independence.
Dvor medical centre massacre26 July 1991Dvor10SAO Krajina forces killed eight wounded Croat civilians and two police officers who were being treated at a medical centre during the capture of Dvor.
Aljmaš massacreAugust 1991Aljmaš58JNA forces from the 51st Mechanised Brigade killed 58 Croat civilians after capturing Aljmaš.
Dalj massacre1 August 1991 – May 1992Dalj135SAO Krajina forces, TO units and Serbian Volunteer Guard members massacre Croatian police and Croatian National Guard POWs, Croat and Hungarian civilians.
Sarvaš massacre2 August 1991Sarvaš9Croatian police and ZNG forces massacre 9 Serb civilians after attacking the village.
Lovinac massacre8 August 1991Lovinac5SAO Krajina paramilitary units massacred 5 elderly Croat civilians in Lovinac.
Kraljevčani and Pecki killings14 and 16 August 1991Kraljevčani and, near Petrinja9Serb paramilitaries killed five Croat civilians in Kraljevčani and then another four Croat civilians in nearby.
Banija killings22 August 1991Blinjski Kut and neighbouring villages15ZNG forces killed 15 Serb civilians and POWs.
Skela massacre29 August 1991Skela, near Glina1010 Croat civilians killed by local Serb rebels.
Berak killingsSeptember 1991Berak, Croatia4545 Croats killed by Serb forces throughout September 1991, during the Battle of Vukovar.
Petrinja killingsSeptember 1991 – June 1992Petrinja250+After the fall of Petrinja to Serb forces in September 1991, more than 250 Croat civilians and POWs were killed during the occupation.
Četekovac massacre3 September 1991Četekovac, Balinci, Čoljug, near Podravska Slatina22Serb paramilitaries massacred 20 Croat civilians and 2 PoWs.
Sajmište killings5 September 1991, Vukovar120JNA and Serb paramilitaries killed 120 Croat civilians after seizing the Sajmište suburb, during the Battle of Vukovar.
Pakrac killings6–14 September 1991Pakrac municipality176Croats killed by JNA and Serb paramilitary groups during the occupation of Pakrac and surrounding areas.
Toranj massacre8 September 1991Toranj, Mali Banovac, Batinjani, near Pakrac12Croat civilians massacred by SAO Krajina rebels.
Kusonje massacre9 September 1991Kusonje7SAO Krajina forces massacre seven Croat POWs.
Jasenice massacre11 September 1991Jasenice and Meki Doci1610 elderly Croat civilians from Jasenice and another 6 civilians from the nearby hamlet of Meki Doci were massacred by Serb paramilitaries.
Korana massacre13 September 1991Korana, near Karlovac13Croat forces massacre thirteen JNA POWs over the Korana bridge, near Karlovac.
Trpinja massacre14 September–November 1991Trpinja24Croat civilians and POWs massacred by Serb paramilitaries.
Ivanovo Selo massacre21 September 1991Ivanovo Selo7Seven Czech civilians massacred by Serb paramilitaries.
Svinjarevci massacre22 September 1991Svinjarevci34Thirty-four Croat civilians killed by the JNA and Serb paramilitaries.
Tovarnik massacre22 September 1991Tovarnik80JNA forces killed 80 Croat civilians during and after capturing the village of Tovarnik in September 1991.
Grabovac attack26 September 1991Grabovac3 killed, 5 woundedJNA and rebel Serb mortar attack on a refugee camp near Grabovac killed three Croat civilians and wounded five others.
Antin massacre29 September 1991Antin and Korođ27 killed, 10 woundedA civilian refugee column, fleeing a JNA attack, was deliberately shelled by mortar fire between the villages of Antin and Korođ.
Ravno massacre1 October 1991Ravno, near Trebinje, Herzegovina24–58Yugoslav People's Army Around 450 Serbian soldiers attacked the village of Ravno during operations linked to the siege of Dubrovnik. Homes were destroyed, civilians were killed, and the village was largely razed. A JNA lieutenant colonel later admitted the attack on Montenegrin state television.
Kijev Do KillingOctober 1991Kijev Do, Ravno municipality8Eight elderly Croat civilians—seven women and one man—were killed in a targeted operation by JNA units and affiliated forces.
Donji Čaglić massacre2 October 1991Donji Čaglić10Serb paramilitaries and JNA reservists killed 10 Croat civilians.
Bogdanovci killings2 October-10 November 1991Bogdanovci, near Vukovar8787 Croat civilians were killed by JNA forces and Serb paramilitary groups, during the occupation of Bogdanovci.
Novo Selo Glinsko massacre3 and 16 October 1991Novo Selo Glinsko, near Glina32SAO Krajina forces massacred thirty-two Croat civilians in two separate incidents in October 1991, in the village of Novo Selo Glinsko, near Glina.
Lovas killings10–18 October 1991Lovas and Opatovac70Serb forces killed 70 Croats in the village of Lovas. A total of around 90 Croats were killed in Lovas by Serb forces between October and November 1991.
Borovo Naselje executionsEarly-mid October 1991Borovo Naselje, Vukovar15Serbia alleges that ZNG forces tortured and executed 15 Serb civilians in Borovo Naselje who were taken from shelters.
Široka Kula massacre13 October 1991Široka Kula, near Gospić41SAO Krajina police force massacre of Croat and Serb civilians in the village of Široka Kula.
Gospić massacre16–18 October 1991Gospić100About 100 Serb civilians massacred by Croatian forces over a period of several days in October 1991.
Baćin massacre21 October 1991 – February 1992Baćin, near Hrvatska Dubica118SAO Krajina paramilitaries killed 118 civilians, apart from Croats two Serbs.
Tordinci massacre25 October 1991Tordinci22Twenty-two Croat civilians massacred by the 12th Proletarian Mechanised Brigade of the JNA, supported by Serb paramilitaries
Glinska Poljana massacre27 October 1991Glinska Poljana13Serb paramilitaries killed 13 Croat civilians.
Lipovača killings28 October 1991 and 1 January 1992Lipovača, near Rakovica12Serb rebel forces committed two massacres against Croat civilians in Lipovača. Seven civilians were killed on 28 October 1991, while another five civilians were killed on 1 January 1992.
Požega villages massacre29 October 1991Čečavac, Čečavački Vučjak, Jeminovac, Ruševac and Šnjegavić, near Požega41Croat forces killed at least 41 Serb civilians across several Serb villages near Požega.
Bapska killingsOctober–November 1991Bapska17Croatia alleges that SAO Krajina forces killed 17 Croats.
Lužac massacre2 November 1991, near Vukovar69Members of the Serbian Paramilitary group, Arkan's Tigers, and JNA forces killed 69 Croat civilians in Lužac, during the Battle of Vukovar.
Staro Selo massacre4 November 1991Staro Selo10Ten Serb civilians massacred by Croatian forces.
Bizovac attack7 November 1991Bizovac8 killed, 20+ injuredJNA air attack on civilian areas in the centre of Bizovac killed 8 and wounded more than 20 people.
Murder of the Zec family7 November 1991Zagreb3Ethnic Serb family of three murdered by five Croatian militiamen; two family members survived. The murderers were apprehended, but released after a controversial court decision in 1992. The Croatian government agreed to compensate the surviving family members in a 2004 court settlement.
Poljanak and Vukovići massacres7 November 1991Poljanak and Vukovići, near Slunj10Local Serb TO forces and a special JNA unit killed 10 Croat civilians in the villages of Poljanak and Vukovići, in the Plitvice lakes area.
Saborsko massacre12 November 1991Saborsko29Serb paramilitaries kill 29 Croats in the village of Saborsko.
Kostrići massacre15 November 1991Kostrići16Serb paramilitary unit killed 16 Croat civilians, including two children.
Majur massacres15 November 1991Majur, Graboštani and Stubalj38On the same day the Kostrići massacre occurred, the same Serb paramilitary unit massacred another 38 Croat civilians in the nearby villages of Majur, Graboštani and Stubalj.
Slunj massacres16 November 1991 – 1995Slunj and neighbouring areas, including Cetingrad and Rakovica297Serb forces killed Croat civilians in Slunj and surrounding areas throughout the occupation. The majority were killed between November 1991 and the Spring of 1992.
Škabrnja massacre18 November 1991Škabrnja and Nadin67Serb paramilitaries killed 48 Croat civilians and five Croatian POWs in the village of Škabrnja, and 14 civilians in the village of Nadin.
Borovo Naselje massacre19 November 1991Borovo Naselje, Vukovar166JNA and other Serb forces massacred 166 local civilians and POWs after the capture of Borovo Naselje.
Vukovar massacre20 November 1991Vukovar264A mostly Croatian group of 263 men and 1 woman, of whom 194 have been identified, were murdered by members of the Serb militias following the JNA withdrawal from Ovčara after it brought those patients there from the Vukovar hospital.
Novska killings21 November 1991 & 18 December 1991Novska7Two separate instances of mass murder of ethnic Serbs in the town of Novska.
Dabar massacre21 November 1991Dabar, near Vrhovine7SAO Krajina paramilitaries tortured and killed 7 Croat civilians.
Laslovo massacre23 November 1991Laslovo66 elderly Croat and Hungarian civilians massacred by Arkan's Tigers.
Divoš massacreearly December 1991Divoš24Serb civilians massacred by Croatian forces.
Paulin Dvor massacre11 December 1991Paulin Dvor, near Osijek19Croatian Army soldiers massacred 18 Serbs and 1 Hungarian in the village of Paulin Dvor.
Gornje Jame massacre11 December 1991Gornje Jame1616 civilians killed by Šiltovi Serbian paramilitary unit.
Voćin massacre13 December 1991Voćin4343 Croat civilians massacred by White Eagles paramilitaries during Operation Papuk-91.
Bokane massacre13 December 1991Bokane, Krašković, Miokovićevo and Zvečevo20On the same day of the Voćin massacre, the same White Eagles paramilitaries killed another 20 Croat civilians during their retreat through neighbouring villages south of Voćin.
Voćin killings13–16 December 1991Voćin24–40After the withdrawal of Serb forces from Voćin and arrival of the Croatian Army, dozens of Serbs are killed over several days.
Joševica massacre16 December 1991Joševica21Serb paramilitaries killed 21 Croatian civilians killed reportedly in retaliation for Serb losses sustained in Operation Whirlwind.
Lađevac killings21 December 1991 – June 1993Donji Lađevac and Gornji Lađevac20Series of abuses and killings of Croat civilians, who remained in the Donji and Gornji Lađevac villages, by SAO Krajina paramilitaries.
Bruška massacre21 December 1991Bruška1010 Croatian civilians killed by Republic of Serbian Krajina forces.
Erdut killings10 November 1991 – 3 June 1992Erdut37A series of killings of 37 Croat and Hungarian civilians by local SAO forces and Serb Volunteer Guard paramilitaries.
Sotin massacre26 December 1991Sotin6432 Croat civilians massacred by Croatian Serb militia and Territorial Defense. A further thirty-two civilians are declared missing and are presumed to have been killed by Serb forces later into the occupation.
Šašići massacre18 January 1992Šašići, near Ervenik4Murder of 4 Croat members of the Čengić family by Serb paramilitaries.
Banski Kovačevac massacre20 March 1992Banski Kovačevac, near Karlovac15Croat civilians killed by Serb paramilitaries.
Slavonski Brod attack3 May 1992Slavonski Brod16 killed, 60 woundedIndiscriminate air attack by the Army of Republika Srpska across areas of Slavonski Brod killed 16 Croat civilians and wounded 60 others.
Grabovac massacre4 May 1992Grabovac5Serbia's Red Berets special forces abducted and killed three men and two women. They were initially buried in Tikveš, before the bodies were moved to conceal the killings.
Slavonski Brod refugee camp shelling15 July 1992Slavonski Brod12 killed, 31 wounded12 Bosniak refugees killed and 31 wounded after their accommodation at a stadium in Slavonski Brod was shelled by the Army of the Republika Srpska.
Puljane massacre2 February 1993Puljane, near Promina8Eight elderly Croat civilians killed by Serb forces, allegedly in retaliation for the HV offensive Operation Maslenica.
Medviđa massacre9 February 1993Medviđa, near Benkovac18Eighteen Croat civilians killed by Serb forces, allegedly in retaliation for the HV offensive Operation Maslenica.
Soline rocket attack14 June 1993Biograd na Moru5 killed, 7 woundedRepublic of Serbian Krajina forces fired M-87 Orkan cluster rockets at the Soline beach in Biograd na Moru, killing 5 and wounding 7 civilians.
Operation Medak Pocket9–17 September 1993near Gospić36 Serb civilians and POWs killed by Croat forces during and after Operation Medak Pocket.
Karlovac attack10 September 1993Karlovac11 killed, 23 woundedRepublic of Serbian Krajina forces shelled Karlovac, in retaliation for the Croatian Army launching the start of Operation Medak Pocket, killing 11 and wounding 23 civilians.
Batinjska Rijeka massacre11 May 1994Batinjska Rijeka, near Daruvar5Five Croat civilians abducted and killed by Serb forces.
Medari massacre1 May 1995Medari, near Okučani22HV forces killed 22 Serb civilians during Operation Flash.
Zagreb rocket attacks2–3 May 1995Zagreb7 killed, 214 woundedRepublic of Serbian Krajina forces used multiple rocket launchers, fitted with cluster munitions, to strike civilian-populated areas of Zagreb on the 2 and 3 May 1995, in retaliation for the HV offensive Operation Flash. Part of the ICTY conviction of Milan Martić and Momčilo Perišić
Zaton attack3 August 1995Zaton, near Dubrovnik3 killed, 3 woundedOn the eve of Operation Storm, Army of Republika Srpska forces shelled a public bathing area in the village of Zaton, near Dubrovnik, killing 3 and wounding another 3 Croat civilians.
Gospić attack4 August 1995Gospić3In retaliation for the Croatian Army launching the start of Operation Storm, Republic of Serbian Krajina forces of the 105th Aviation Brigade launched an air attack on Gospić, killing 3 civilians and wounding several others.
Golubić massacreAugust 1995Golubić1818 Serb civilians killed by Croat forces during and after Operation Storm.
Donji Lapac killingsAugust 1995Donji Lapac2020 Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces after Operation Storm. Part of the ICTY indictment of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač.
Biskupija massacreAugust 1995Biskupija, near Knin1515 Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces in the aftermath of Operation Storm.
Kijani killingsAugust–September 1995Kijani, Croatia1414 elderly Serb civilians executed by Croat forces in the aftermath of Operation Storm.
Sarena Jezera killings5 August 1995Sarena Jezera, near Knin66 Serb civilians executed by Croat forces during Operation Storm.
Mokro Polje killings6 August 1995Mokro Polje, near Knin5At least 5 Serb civilians executed by Croat forces during Operation Storm.
Uzdolje massacre6 August 1995Uzdolje, near Knin1010 Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces during Operation Storm.
Glina refugee column massacre7–8 August 1995Main road between Glina and Dvor16Serb civilians in a refugee column killed after being ambushed by HV and ARBiH forces during Operation Storm.
Dvor massacre8 August 1995Dvor98 Croatian Serbs and 1 Croat civilian massacred in the aftermath of Operation Storm. At the time of the massacre, both Croatian and Serbian forces were in the vicinity of Dvor, but neither side has admitted to the killings. According to Jorgen Kold, his UN peacekeeping unit observed at least three Croatian soldiers with baseball caps and backpacks, near the camp on the morning of the massacre and "either they're covering it up, or someone doesn't want to remember". Kold defended his unit's failure to act by saying that they were instructed not to leave the camp or interfere.
Komić killings12 August 1995Komić, Croatia99 elderly Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces in the aftermath of Operation Storm.
Grubori massacre25 August 1995Grubori, near Knin66 Serb civilians massacred by the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit in the aftermath of Operation Storm.
Kistanje massacre10–27 August 1995Kistanje, near Knin1313 elderly Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces in the aftermath of Operation Storm, throughout August 1995.
Gošić massacre27 August 1995Gošić, Šibenik-Knin County88 elderly Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces in the aftermath of Operation Storm.
Varivode massacre28 September 1995Varivode99 elderly Serb civilians massacred by Croat forces in the village of Varivode.