The Army of the Republika Srpska ( VRS ) was founded on 12 May 1992 from the remnants of the Yugoslav People 's Army ( JNA ) of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from which Bosnia and Herzegovina had seceded the same year . When the Bosnian War erupted , the JNA formally discharged 80,000 Bosnian Serb troops . These troops , who were allowed to keep their heavy weapons , formed the backbone of the newly formed Army of the Republika Srpska . Aside from being made up almost entirely of ethnic Serb officers and recruits from Bosnia and Herzegovina , the VRS also included ca. 4,000 foreign Orthodox Christian volunteers . 1,000-1,500 of these came from Russia , and Bulgaria , with 700 volunteers originating from Russia specifically . 100 Greeks also volunteered to fight on the side of the Bosnian Serbs , forming the Greek Volunteer Guard which allegedly participated in the Srebrenica massacre
Srebrenica massacre
Srebrenica massacre
Army of Republika Srpska