Ratko Mladic: From General to 'Butcher of Bosnia' and His End in Prison
Alex Milan Durie
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, has died in a prison hospital in The Hague, Netherlands, at age 84. His death came after Serbia repeatedly requested his release for medical treatment, which international courts denied.
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general, has died in a prison hospital in The Hague, Netherlands, at age 84, after more than 15 years in detention for war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment for his commanding role in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide – the first genocide on European soil since World War II.
Mladic's death on August 27, 2026, prompted the United Nations to reaffirm the gravity of the crimes for which he was convicted. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: “The Secretary-General stands with the victims, survivors, and their families – those who suffered the crimes Mr. Mladic was found guilty of… He also calls on all those in positions of power not to deny the gravity of the crimes that have been adjudicated.”
Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the UN war crimes tribunal of behaving in an “uncivilized” manner by refusing to release Mladic early so he could die in Serbia. Earlier this year, Belgrade authorities requested that Mladic receive medical treatment outside prison, citing his “serious” health condition. The court rejected this request in June 2025.
Mladic, nicknamed the “Butcher of Bosnia,” was one of the most notorious military commanders in the wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. Under his command, Bosnian Serb forces captured Srebrenica – a UN-declared “safe area” – in July 1995. In the ensuing days, more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed, and between 25,000 and 30,000 others were expelled from the area.
Here is a timeline of key events in Mladic's life:
1942–1966 – Birth and personal life: Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb, was born in March 1942 in the village of Bozanovici, in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina). His father was a member of the communist-led anti-fascist resistance during World War II. In 1966, he married Bosiljka Jedic, and they had two children, Darko and Ana.
1965–1991 – Military career: At age 22, Mladic joined the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and rose through the ranks. By 1991, he was head of the operational teaching department of the 9th Corps in Knin (now in Croatia) and later commanded the Naval Division Headquarters of the 9th Corps.
1991–1992 – Arrival in Sarajevo: The presidency of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia promoted Mladic to major general in 1991 and lieutenant general in April 1992. He commanded the 2nd Military District Headquarters of the JNA in Sarajevo.
1992–1995 – Siege of Sarajevo: The Bosnian Serb army under Mladic's command besieged the capital, Sarajevo. It became the longest military siege of a capital city in modern history, lasting 1,460 days and killing more than 11,500 people. An estimated 480,000 to 500,000 shells were fired into the city.
July 1995 – Srebrenica genocide: Mladic's forces captured Srebrenica and Zepa, two UN-protected safe areas. In what was later deemed genocide, 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed, and 25,000 to 30,000 people were expelled.
July and November 1995 – Indicted for genocide: Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, the political leader of the Bosnian Serbs, were indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Srebrenica massacre and the mass expulsion of Bosniak civilians. Mladic faced 20 charges, including genocide. In 1996, the ICTY issued international arrest warrants for Mladic and Karadzic.
1997–2011 – Evasion of capture: After the ICTY indictment, Mladic went into hiding at various locations in Serbia. Prosecutors and investigators tracked his activities based on rumors, witness testimony, intelligence, and court documents. In 2001, he was believed to have moved to Bosnia and Herzegovina before returning to Serbia.
2011–2016 – Arrest and trial: On May 26, 2011, Mladic was arrested in Lazarevo, northern Serbia, at the home of his cousin. He was taken to Belgrade and then transferred to The Hague for trial by the ICTY. The trial began in June 2011, with closing arguments presented in December 2016. Mladic refused a plea bargain.
November 2017 – Final verdict: Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Srebrenica genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
June 2025 – Release request denied: In late 2022, his family said Mladic was hospitalized in “poor” health. In June 2025, he filed a request for release, citing he had only months to live, but the request was rejected.
August 27, 2026 – Mladic dies: He died in a hospital within the prison complex in The Hague after roughly 15 years in detention.
