Operation "Lukavac 93"

At the beginning of July 1993, the Main Staff of the VRS began the implementation of a new operation, "Lukavac 93," whose goal was the liberation of Trnovo. In this area during the summer of 1992, Muslim forces had expelled the Serbian population and forces and committed war crimes.

The core idea of the VRS operation was to penetrate toward Trnovo from three directions, push back and split the Muslim formations on the Trnovo–Goražde line, and subsequently seize the mountain peaks of Igman, Treskavica, and Bjelašnica.

The Liberation of Trnovo

The operation began on July 6, 1993. Units of the Sarajevo-Romanija and Herzegovinian Corps of the VRS advanced along planned directions, supported by artillery from Jahorina. Trnovo was liberated on July 11, 1993.

The following day, the forces of the corps engaged in this operation met in Trnovo. Taking advantage of the disarray within the Muslim forces following the fall of Trnovo, Rogoj, and Grebak, Serbian forces extended their operations and captured all the villages on the southern slopes of Igman.

Battles for Igman and Bjelašnica

It was clear to the VRS leadership that whoever controls Igman and Bjelašnica effectively controls Sarajevo as well. Battles were fought on Igman from July 19 to 28, resulting in the liberation of the peak of Bjelašnica and Mount Igman.

Through this successful operation, the Serbian forces of the VRS not only called into question the survival of Muslim forces in Sarajevo but also completely cut off the Muslim territories of Goražde and connected the Sarajevo-Romanija and Herzegovinian Corps—effectively linking the territories of Romanija with Herzegovina.

The battle for Rogoj and Trnovo was key for the Serbian army's breakthrough to Igman and Bjelašnica—two strategic heights that opened roads toward Sarajevo and Konjic.

Peace Pressures and the Decision to Withdraw

Operation "Lukavac 93" was the greatest military success of 1993. It presented the possibility of ending the war by having VRS forces enter parts of, or even the entirety of, Sarajevo under Muslim control, which would have meant a de facto military victory in the war.

However, peace negotiations were underway in Geneva, and massive pressure was exerted on the civilian leadership of Republika Srpska under the threat of NATO bombing. In response, President Karadžić made the move to enter negotiations regarding the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Igman and Bjelašnica. The pressure from the international community bore fruit: under pressure from the President, General Mladić accepted this political decision.

Withdrawal of VRS Forces

Thus, as early as August 10, and in accordance with a previous order from President Karadžić, Serbian forces withdrew from Igman and Bjelašnica. The positions captured in the battles of the previous month—paid for with the lives of VRS fighters—were handed over to UNPROFOR forces as agreed.

Although the intent was there from the start, it was three months later—when enough time had passed so the deception would not be as obvious—that the UN forces withdrew. On November 4, 1993, the forces of the so-called Army of BiH took over Igman, Bjelašnica, and Treskavica, as well as all the villages above Trnovo toward Treskavica and Bjelašnica. They later exploited this position to commit certain crimes against Serbs.

Military Victory and Political Defeat

Operation "Lukavac 93" was one of the most brilliant military victories of the VRS, but at the same time, it represented a stumbling block between the military and political leadership regarding how to end the war.

The military leadership favored defeating the enemy on the battlefield and in its capital, while the political leadership, exposed to intense external political pressure, decided that the war should be ended through negotiations.

This action also demonstrated the hypocrisy of the West and NATO, who were becoming increasingly and openly involved in the war on the side of the Croat-Muslim coalition.