Offensive in Podrinje (1993)

Offensive in Podrinje (1993)
Part of the Bosnian War
Date 26 May – 8 June 1993. Location Višegrad, Međeđa and Goražde Result Army of Republika Srpska victory
Belligerents
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Republika Srpska Russian volunteer units in Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Ferid Buljubasić	Ratko Mladić Milenko Lazić
Strength
6.000	4.000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The offensive in Podrinje was the response of the Army of Republika Srpska to the attack on Višegrad by the ARBiH. 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 Army of Republika Srpska would push the ARBiH away from the vicinity of Višegrad and all the way to the vicinity of Goražde.

The course of the battle

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. In the VRS offensive, Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina lost about 200 km².