state ▁in ▁the ▁West . ▁On ▁ 1 7 ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁the ▁European ▁Econom ic ▁Community ▁agreed ▁to ▁recognize ▁the ▁independence ▁of ▁Cro atia ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁ ▁Between ▁October ▁and ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁the ▁J NA ▁captured ▁approximately ▁ ▁of ▁territory ▁around ▁Dub rov nik all ▁of ▁which ▁the ▁H V ▁re capt ured ▁in ▁its ▁May ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁counter att ack ▁as ▁the ▁J NA ▁pulled ▁back ▁east ▁of ▁Dub rov nik , ▁and ▁in ▁subsequent ▁H V ▁off ens ives Operation ▁T iger ▁and ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Kon av le ▁between ▁July ▁and ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁Between ▁ 8 2 ▁and ▁ 8 8 ▁Cro at ian ▁civ ili ans ▁were ▁killed ▁in ▁the ▁sie ge , ▁as ▁were ▁ 1 9 4 ▁Cro at ian ▁military ▁personnel . ▁Nin ety - four ▁Cro at ian ▁soldiers ▁were ▁killed ▁between ▁October ▁and ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 1 . ▁A ▁total ▁of ▁ 4 1 7 ▁were ▁killed ▁in ▁all ▁military ▁operations ▁around ▁Dub rov nik ▁by ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁The ▁J NA ▁suffered ▁ 1 6 5 ▁fatal ities . ▁Appro xim ately ▁ 1 5 , 0 0 0 ▁refuge es ▁from ▁Kon av le ▁and ▁other ▁areas ▁around ▁Dub rov nik ▁fled ▁to ▁the ▁city , ▁and ▁about ▁ 1 6 , 0 0 0 ▁refuge