List of massacres in Kosovo
Introduction This is a list of massacres that happened in Kosovo throughout history.
Ottoman period  Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims Description 1878 attacks 1878Kosovo vilayet Albanian refugees SerbsIncoming Albanian refugees to Kosovo who were expelled by the Serb army from the Sanjak of Niș were involved in revenge attacks and hostile actions to the local Serb population. 1898–1899 attacks 1898-1899Old Serbia Albanians Serbs   1901 massacres of Serbs 1901 Pristina and Ibarski Kolašin Albanians Serbs Takeover of Pristina ~23 October 1912 Pristina 5,000 Serbian army Albanians First Balkan War Takeover of Ferizaj 24 October 1912 Ferizaj 1,200 Serbian army Albanians First Balkan War Takeover of Prizren 1912 Prizren 5,000 Serbian and Montenegrin armies Albanians First Balkan War Leshkobare massacre 1912 Lloshkobare 8 Serbian army Albanians First Balkan WarTorching of Bobaj1912BobajSerbian armyAlbaniansAll inhabitants of Bobaj were killed.Extermination of Opoja and Restelica1912-1913Opoja and RestelicathousandsSerbian armyAlbaniansSerbian troops were ordered to exterminate the population of the villages of Opoja, Gora, Bellobrad, Brrut, Rrenc, Bresanë, Zym and Qafëleshi.Razing of Peja1912-1913PejaSerbian army and ChetniksAlbaniansBytyci massacre1913Highlands of Gjakova51Serbian armyAlbaniansFirst Balkan WarMassacre of the Rugova tribe1913RugovaMontenegrin armyAlbaniansEvery man of the Rugova tribe was reportedly killed.Vushtrri killings1913VushtrriSerbian armyAlbanians
World War I  Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims DescriptionAstrazubi massacre1914Malisheva227Serbian armyAlbanians90% of the houses in Astrazubi were destroyed.Peja massacres1914PejaSerbian armyAlbanians25 civilians were killed each day.Lubishtë massacre1914Lubishtë104Serbian armyAlbaniansJulekar massacre1914Viti24Serbian armyAlbaniansAttack on Bytyci1915Highlands of GjakovaSerbian armyAlbaniansThe Ushki family almost completely killed, with only one survivor.Bombardment of Vechali1915Prizren–Tetovo65Serbian armyAlbaniansThe Serbian army shelled the village of Vecali.
Interwar period  Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims Description Rugova massacre 16 February 1919 Rugova  842 Army of Kingdom of Yugoslavia Albanian civilians Mitrovica killings1919-1921Mitrovica1,330Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansPeja killings1919-1921Peja1,563Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansPrizren killings1919-1921Prizren4,600Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansFerizaj killings1919-1921Ferizaj1,694Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansKeqekolla massacreJanuary 1921KeqekollëArmy of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansPrapashtica massacreJanuary 1921PrapashticëArmy of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansDushkajë massacre1921Dushkajë63Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civiliansDubnica massacre10 February 1924Dubnica25Army of Kingdom of YugoslaviaAlbanian civilians
World War II  Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims Description Massacres of Kosovo Serbs April-May 1941 Districts of Peja, Djakovica, Istok and Drenica 162 Albanians Serbs Massacres accompanied by expulsions and burning down of villages. Istok killings 1941-1943  Istok 275 Albanians Serbs   Goraždevac killings 1941  Goraždevac, near Peja 47 Albanians  Serbs   Ibarski Kolašin massacres 30 September–10 October 1941 Ibarski Kolašin 150 Albanians Serbs 22 villages also burnt down. Ibarski Kolašin killings  1942-1943  Ibarski Kolašin 130 Albanians  Serbs  June 1942 Pristina killings Late June 1942 Pristina area 100 Albanians Serbs  Vareška Reka massacre June 1943  15 Albanians Serbs  Trepča mine executions 3-7 June 1943 Trepča mine, Mitrovica 64 Albanians Serbs Mass shooting of Serbs by Albanians, Albanian gendarmerie and prison guards at the Trepča mine prison, most of whom were workers that had fallen ill, and among whom several were peasants from the Mitrovica vicinity. Uroševac massacre 11–12 September 1943 Uroševac area 60 Albanians Serbs 48 were killed in the town itself, while 12 others were taken out of town and killed after being tortured. The unit responsible was commanded by Amdija Jašarević. Nekodim, Baroš Selo, Duganjevo and Plešina murders 12–13 September 1943 Nekodim, Baroš Selo, Duganjevo and Plešina Unknown Albanians Serbs  Žerovnica killings 10 October 1943 Žerovnica 6 Albanians Serbs  Brestovik mass killing 13 October 1943 Brestovik 19 Albanians Serbs 19 Serbs in the Serb village of Brestovik near Peja were killed by Albanian quislings on 13 October 1943.Before the Italian capitulation (September 1943), 12 villagers had also been killed. Rakoš massacre October 1943 Rakoš 65 Albanians Serbs Serbs shot by Albanians in Rakoš, a village half-way between Kosovska Mitrovica and Peć. Peja massacres Late 1943 Peja  230 Albanians Serbs  Tople Vode massacre 1944 Kačanik 13 Bulgarian forces Serbs 13 Serbs from the village of Vrbeštica shot by Bulgarian forces. Štrpce massacre 30 June 1944 Štrpce 50 Bulgarian military Serbs Serbs shot after the death of a Bulgarian soldier.
Kosovo War   Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims Description Attacks on Likošane and Ćirez 28 February–1 March 1998 Likošane and Ćirez, near Glogovac 26 Serbian special police Albanian civilians Operation against Albanian civilians. Attack on Prekaz 5–7 March 1998 Prekaz, near Skenderaj 58 VJ, SAJ KLA, Albanian civilians operation led by the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit of Serbia which lasted from 5-7 March 1998, which goal was to eliminate Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) suspects and their families. During the operation, KLA leader Adem Jashari and his brother Hamëz were killed, along with nearly 60 other family members. Volujak Massacre 17-19 July 1998 Volujak 25 KLA Serbian civilians According to Serb authorities, 25 male Kosovo Serb civilians were executed. Serbia attributes the killings to the KLA "Orahovac group" Klečka killings 17–22 July 1998 Klečka 22 KLA Serbian civilians KLA used cremation chambers to burn bodies of killed Serbian civilians, covering up the crime. 22 bodies were identified from remains.Mališevo mass grave 17-20 July 1998 Mališevo  13 KLA Serbian civilians 12 Serbs and 1 Bulgarian were kidnapped and then executed by the KLA in Mališevo between 17-20 July 1998 Orahovac Massacre 17-20 July 1998  Orahovac 47 KLA Serbian civilians More than 100 Serbian and Roma civilians from Orahovac and its surrounding villages - Retimlje, Opterusa, Zočište and Velika Hoca - in western Kosovo were kidnapped and placed in prison camps by KLA fighters; 47 were massacred Lake Radonjić massacre Before 9 September 1998 Glođane 34 KLA Serbs, Albanians On 9 September 1998 the Serbian police announced the finding of a mass grave. By 16 September 34 bodies were gathered. Victims included some Albanians. Gornje Obrinje massacre 26 September 1998 Gornje Obrinje 21 Serbian special police KLA, Albanian civilians Operation against KLA, in retaliation of at least 14 killed Serbian policemen, subsequent massacre with HRW claiming 21 civilians. Golubovac executions 26 September 1998 Golubovac 13 Serbian paramilitary KLA or Albanian civilians Following Gornje Obrinje, summary execution of men suspected of being KLA. Panda Bar massacre 14 December 1998 Peja 6 Serbian Secret Service Serbian civilians 6 Serb civilians killed and 14 wounded in attack on café in Peja. The KLA was accused at the time of the events, but strongly rejected any involvement. The Serbian Organised Crime Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation in 2016 and reached the conclusion that the massacre was not perpetrated by Albanians. any years after the incident, the Serbian government officially acknowledged that it was perpetrated by agents of the Serbian Secret Service. Račak massacre 15 January 1999 Račak 45 SAJ, JSO KLA, Albanian civilians Operation against KLA (9 suspected KLA killed), including killings of civilians. Controversial topic. Mitrovica massacre 13 March 1999 Bazaar of Mitrovica 6 Serbian police Albanian civilians After three grenades were thrown at the market, six people died, over 128 others were injured, many of them remained disabled for life. Velika Kruša massacre 25 March 1999 Velika Kruša 90–105 Serbian special police Albanian civilians  Bela Crkva massacre 25 March 1999 Bela Crkva 62 Serbian special police and paramilitary Albanian civilians Suva Reka massacre 26 March 1999 Suva Reka 48 Serbian police Albanian civilians Members of the Berisha family were forced into their family-owned pizzeria, where two hand grenades were thrown. Serbian police officers shot those who displayed signs of life. The bodies were disposed into a mass grave near a police facility in Batajnica, Serbia. Imeraj massacre 26 March 1999 Pemishtë/Cërkolez 19 Serbian military police & paramilitaries Albanian civilians Serbian forces entered the village of Pemishtë/Cërkolez and killed 19 Albanian civilians, all members of the Imeraj family, including 13 women and children. Izbica massacre 28 March 1999 Kosovo 93 VJ, police and paramilitary Albanians After shelling of the village of Izbica, ca. 93, mostly male non-combatants, were executed.Podujevo massacre 28 March 1999 Podujevo 14Serbian security forces, Scorpions Albanian civiliansSecurity forces gunned down 19 people in the town of Podujevo, killing 14 people and injuring 5, whom were children  Ljubižda massacre 31 March 1999 near Prizren, Kosovo 14 Serbian forces Albanian civilians  Security forces reportedly shot 14 men in the village of Ljubižda, northwest of Prizren. Pusto Selo massacre 31 March 1999 Pusto Selo near Orahovac, Kosovo 106 Serbian forces KLA or Albanian civilians  The men were allegedly KLA sympathizers. Rezala massacre 5 April 1999 Rezala 80 Serbian forces Albanian civilians Serbian police allegedly entered the Albanian village of Rezala and gunned down at least 80 villagers suspected of harbouring KLA guerrillas. Gjakova bombing 14 April 1999 Gjakova 73 NATO Albanian refugees NATO accidentally bomb Albanian refugees in Gjakova. Slovinje massacre 15-16 April 1999 Slovinje near Lipljan 35-44 Serbian security forces AlbaniansBetween 35 and 44 people were shot and executed by Serbian police and paramillitaries in Slovinje and the immediate villages surrounding it (notably Smolusa)   Poklek massacre 17 April 1999 47 Serbian police Albanians KLA were active in the area, while a KLA checkpoint was set up in neighbouring Vasiljevo. According to testimonies, 47 people forced into a room were shot by an unidentified single gunman. Ćikatovo massacre 17 April 1999 Staro Ćikatovo 24 Serbian forces Albanians 24 men of the Morina family were killed during a day-long raid by Serbian forces. Although survivors claimed that none of the killed were involved with the KLA, several members of the family are admitted KLA members. Meja massacre 27 April 1999 Meja near Gjakova 377 Serbian forces Albanian civilians Serbian forces retaliate for the KLA killing of five Serbian policemen in Meja on 21 April, by mass killings on 27 April in that village. The number of victims is unknown, but is believed by HRW to be 300 (based on missing persons list), although very few bodies have been found. Newer figures raise the number dead to at least 377.Lužane bus bombing 1 May 1999 Lužane 23–60 NATO Serbian civilians NATO missile attack on bridge. Vushtrri massacre 2–3 May 1999 Vushtrri, Kosovo 120 Serbian forces Albanian civilians Albanian refugees fleeing the fighting that was occurring between the Yugoslav Army and the KLA were cornered by the Serb Special Forces (who suspected that some KLA members were fleeing the fighting with the refugees). The Special Forces picked out about 120 men who they suspected of being KLA deserters and sprayed them with bullets and later hid their bodies in a mass-grave near Gornja Sudimlja. Koriša bombing 14 May 1999 Koriša 87 NATO Albanian refugees NATO bombed a column of Albanian refugees, killing at least 87 and wounding 60.Ćuška massacre 14 May 1999 Ćuška 41 Serbian security forces Albanians An estimated twelve men killed in round-up, 29 men gathered into three houses and gunned down. Unclear motive. Bilbildere massacre 16 May 1999 Prizren 2 Serbian paramillitaries Albanians 2 men were captured by Arkan's Tigers and were summarily executed. Dubrava Prison massacre 22–23 May 1999 Dubrava 79–82 Serbian prison guards Albanian inmates Inmates were extrajudicially killed or summary executed on 22 and 23 May following NATO bombings on 19 May. Tusus massacre 26 May 1999 Prizren 27–34 Serbian forces Albanians Serbian forces kill 27–34 people and burn over 100 homes. Retaliation for at least two killed policemen on crossing street that morning by KLA.
Aftermath of Kosovo War   Event Date Location Deaths Perpetrator Victims DescriptionPeja killing12 June 1999Peja7Serbian forcesAlbanian civiliansSix members of a family were killed and one was captured and found dead. Gnjilane massacre June–October 1999 Peja 51 KLA Serbian civilians KLA's Gnjilane Group burned homes and murdered Serbs and other non-Albanian civilians. The remains of 51 Serbs were discovered in mass graves in 1999.Staro Gracko massacre 23 July 1999 Lipjan 14 KLA Serbian civilians Mass killing of 14 Serb farmers in the village of Staro Gracko in the municipality of Lipljan on 23 July 1999.The killings occurred after Yugoslav troops withdrew from the region in the aftermath of the Kosovo War. Ugljare massacre Before August 1999 Ugljare 15 KLA Serbs KFOR reports on 25 August 1999 the finding of 15 bodies of killed Serbs. Killed months prior, the bodies were concealed by the KFOR. Klokot killings 16 August 1999 Klokot 2 Albanian extremists Serbian civilians On 16 August 1999, after the Kosovo War, a mortar attack carried out by Albanians killed two Serb civilians and wounded five others in the village. There had earlier that month been two mortar attacks.Mitrovica massacre3-4 February 2000North Mitrovica10Serbian extremists Albanian civiliansSerbian extremists stormed the houses of 10 Albanian civilians and murdered them on the nights of 3-4 February 2000.Cernica Killings 28 May 2000 Cernica 3 Albanian extremists Serbian civilians Three Serbs including a four year old child were murdered in cold blood during a drive-by shooting in Cernica, a village south of Gnjilane. Podujevo bus bombing 16 February 2001 Podujevo 12 Albanian extremists Serbian civilians 12 dead and 40 wounded in bombing attack on bus convoy carrying Serbs traveling to Serb enclave Gračanica to visit family graves. Stolic Family Massacre 3 June 2003 Obilić  3  Serbian civilians Three Serbs were axed to death. The house was then set on fire. Goraždevac murders 13 August 2003 Goraždevac 2 Albanian extremists Serbian civilians Shots fired from Albanian village on the Serb enclave kills two, an adult and a child, and wounding four. 2004 unrest in Kosovo 17-18 March 2004 Kosovo 16 Albanians Serbian civilians On 17 and 18 March 2004, a wave of violent riots swept through Kosovo, 16 Serbs and 11 Albanians were killed during the unrest. Over 935 Serbian houses and 35 Churches were burned and destroyed. Over 4000 Serbs were expelled from Kosovo. Talinoc Killings 6 July 2012 Talinoc i Muhaxhirëve 2  Serbian civiliansA married Serb couple, war refugees who had returned to the village, were murdered in their house on 6 July 2012.After the murders, the village Serbs asked the government to secure their relocation to either Strpce or Gracanica, or else they were to leave for Central Serbia.
See also * Serbian–Ottoman Wars (1876–1878)* Balkan Wars (First Balkan War • Second Balkan War)* World War I* Interwar period* World War II* Kosovo War* North Kosovo crisis (2011–2013)
References
Sources ** * * * * *
External links *  OSCE: ''Kosovo/Kosova - As Seen, As Told'', 1999*  Under Orders: War Crimes in Kosovo (Human Right Watch)*  ICTY: Indictment of Milutinović ''et al. '', "Kosovo", September 5 2002*  Report of the UN Secretary-General, January 31, 1999*  Photographic Evidence of Kosovo Genocide and Conflict*  SERBIAN MASSACRES BEFORE NATO AIRSTRIKES*  Kosovo Genocide: Massacres*  The Kosovo Cover-Up*  Kosovo massacre trial*  Judgment in the Vlastimir Djorjevic case, February 23, 2011