Serbia is preparing to commemorate the anniversary of the 1999 NATO bombing campaign, with this year’s central ceremony scheduled to take place in Vranje on 24 March, according to reports by Serbian media outlet Večernje novosti.
Officials say the event will be attended by senior state leaders, marking what Serbian authorities describe as a key historical and political moment in the country’s recent history.
Commemoration of the 1999 NATO Air Campaign
The anniversary refers to the beginning of the 1999 NATO air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, launched on 24 March 1999 and lasting 78 days until 10 June 1999. The military operation was conducted by the NATO, led primarily by the United States, during the Kosovo conflict.
Serbian narratives describing the events often refer to the campaign as an “aggression” against the country, while NATO has historically maintained that the intervention was carried out to halt the humanitarian crisis and violence in Kosovo at the time.
Casualties and Ongoing Debate Over Figures
According to figures frequently cited in Serbian sources, the exact number of civilian casualties has never been definitively established, though estimates suggest up to more than 2,500 civilians killed and more than 6,000 wounded, including children.
Some reports also state that dozens of children were among the victims, figures that remain subject to ongoing historical and political debate.
Countries Involved in the Operation
The air campaign involved multiple NATO member states at the time, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and the United States, according to Serbian accounts.
International Reactions at the Time
During the conflict in 1999, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia received diplomatic and political support from several countries, including Russia, China, Belarus, and India.
At the same time, protests against the bombing were reported in various countries worldwide, including in some NATO member states.
Annual Ceremony Planned in Southern Serbia
The choice of Vranje as the host city reflects Serbia’s tradition of rotating locations for national commemorations, which aim to highlight the memory of the conflict and its impact across different parts of the country.
Further details about the ceremony, including the list of officials attending and the planned program, are expected to be announced in the coming days.
