According to the 1991 census, Sisak had 45,792 inhabitants, of whom 10,829, or as much as 23.64%, were Serbs, while according to the 2011 census, the Town of Sisak had 69,281 residents, of whom only 5,897, or 7.46%, were Serbs. Although the administrative area of the Town of Sisak no longer covers the same territory as in 1991, making precise comparative analysis difficult, it is clear that the decline in the number of Serbs in this area has been drastic.
Period: From 1991 to 1995
Description of crimes: In the autumn of 1991, Sisak was almost on the front line. A large number of Croats from Petrinja and the surrounding area arrived in the town, a smaller portion of Serbs left, and the situation of those who remained was especially difficult. Several different groups of armed individuals, members of Croatian military units and police units, intimidated, abused, tortured, and killed Serbs in Sisak. Their apartments were searched for weapons, they received threatening phone calls, were taken from their homes and workplaces, and many of those taken were later found dead or are still listed as missing. The executions of Serbs in Sisak were often preceded by torture. Beatings, broken arms and legs, knife stabs, and even decapitation were all confirmed by reports from the Pathology Department of the General Hospital in Sisak. By order of the District Court in Sisak at the time, autopsies or external examinations were performed on 64 bodies of those killed, and these findings testify to the brutality of the crimes committed. Detentions, torture, and killings of Serbs took place at locations called Barutana, ORA, and Jodno. A large number of these crimes are attributed to two notorious units active in Sisak during the war: the Wolves (Vukovi) and the Handžar Division. The activities of these units have not been fully clarified to this day, but it is known that the Handžar Division was led by Ekrem Mandal, a miner employed in a mine in Labin, originally from Novi Pazar, and the unit was mostly composed of Muslims with around 80 members. The Wolves were a smaller unit with 20 to 30 members. Both units were part of the reserve forces of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP).
Victims: A full list of victims, or even the total number of those killed or subjected to abuse in the Sisak area during the war, has not been fully established, and fierce debates on the subject continue. Estimates range from several dozen to more than 600 killed. What can be stated with certainty is that several dozen Serbs were killed in various ways in the Sisak area.
Below is the list of victims issued by the association Forum for Human Rights from Sisak.
List of victims from the indictment against Vladimir Milanković and Drago Bošnjak:
Killed/missing:
- Vlado Božić
- Zoran Vranešević
- Branko Oljača
- Željko Vila
- Evica Vila
- Marko Vila
- Dušan Vila
- Mlađo Vila
- Nikola Trivkanović
- Zoran Trivkanović
- Berislav Trivkanović
- Jovan Crnobrnja
- Rade Španović
- Stevo Ratković
- Ljubica Solar
- Milan Cvetojević
- Petar Pajagić
- Vojislav Trbulin
- Stanko Martinović
- Stevo Borojević
- Miloš Čalić
- Vaso Jelić
- Nikola Drobnjak
- Miloš Brkić
- Dragan Miočinović
Illegally detained and/or abused:
- Stevo Brajenović
- Dmitar Brajenović
- Milan Slavulj
- Miodrag Stojaković
- Sveto Mijić
- Gojko Lađević
- Nenad Tintor
- Živko Živanović
- Obrad Štrbac
- Milan Davorija
- Stevo Miodrag
- Mićo Mitrović
- Pero Dragojević
- Ivica Bišćan
- Dobrila Crnobrnja
- Milorad Ratković
- Blažana Ratković
- Danica Ratković
- Dragica Subanović
- Branko Subanović
- Lazo Ostojić
- Danica Ostojić
- Dragan Ostojić
- Mirko Drageljević
- Neđeljka Drageljević
- Nikola Batula
- Milica Batula
- Đuro Cvetojević
- Dragomir Cvetojević
- Mihajlo Mrkonja
- Živko Goga
- Milan Vasiljević
- Nikola Arnautović
- Živko Vujanić
- Ranko Davidović
- Ratko Miljević
- Miloš Gojić
- Blagoje Savić
- Radivoj Crevar
- Ljuban Vukšić
- Boško Subotić
an unidentified civilian approximately 45 years old
Name-by-name list of 107 killed Serbs from the Sisak area, issued by the association Forum for Human Rights from Sisak, with an additional five victim records added:
* The victims are also listed in the dossier on the killings in the Banija villages.
- Arbutina, Nikola (Milan/Milovan), born 11 August 1957,
date of death: 9 August 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed - Arbutina, Stanko (-), born 1 January 1945,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Beglić, Damir (Nedjeljko), born 27 July 1961,
date of death: 3 September 1990, circumstances of death not confirmed, police report cites suicide; victim’s wife claims murder - Bekić, Dragan (Dušan), born 16 April 1952,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Banjac, Marko (Ilija), born 28 September 1933,
date of death: 26 August 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed - Biškupović, Dragan (Ranko), born 5 June 1947,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Bojinović, Željka (Petar), born 31 March 1969,
date of death: 22/23 August 1991* - Borojević, Stevo (Rajko), born 10 September 1946,
date of death: 6 October 1991 - Božić, Vlado (Branko), born 16 January 1953,
date of death: 4 August 1991 - Brkić, Miloš (Nikola), born 20 March 1930,
date of death: 20/21 June 1992 - Cetinski, Branko (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Crljenica, Petar (Miloš), born 23 September 1941,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Crnobrnja, Jovan (Spiridon), born 6 November 1936,
date of death: 26 August 1991 - Cvetojević, Milan (Ljuban), born 4 March 1935,
date of death: 19 September 1991 - Drobnjak, Nikola (Miloš), born 8 July 1933,
date of death: 5 April 1992 - Čajić, Nedeljko (Dušan), born 17 October 1945,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Čakalo, Milan (Stojan), born 10 June 1933,
date of death: 23 September 1991 - Čalić, Miloš (Nikola), born 30 January 1942,
date of death: 9 October 1991 - Čenić, Ljuban (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Čorić, Stojan (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances not confirmed - Čosić, Veljko (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991 / 31 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Dabić, Branko (Jovan/Jovo), born 5 January 1953,
date of death: 15/16 September 1991 - Didulica, Jovo (Milan), born 20 January 1953,
date of death: 10 December 1992 / 19 December 1992 - Draić, Mika (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991 / 15 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Drobnjak, Nikola (Miloš), born 8 July 1933 / 3 July 1933,
date of death: 5 April 1992 - Dukić, Damir (-), born 1 January 1964,
date of death: 6 January 1994, identity and circumstances
of death not confirmed - Đapa, Milenko (Rajko), born 22 December 1951,
date of death: 22/23 August 1991 - Đekić, Ratko (Lazar), born 27 October 1918,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Đenić, Nenad (Jandrija), born 23 August 1977,
date of death: 17 August 1996, autopsy and death certificate suggest accident/drowning, Croatian nationality - Đukić, Ivica (Đuro), born 1 January 1957,
date of death: 11 October 1991, Croatian nationality - Erak, Ljuban (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Grubić, Miloš (-), born 1 January 1930,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Grubić, Nikola (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Ivanjek, Slavko (Stjepan), born 7/17 September 1948,
date of death: 7 September 1991, Croatian nationality - Jelić, Vaso (Petar), born 9 August 1931,
date of death: 15 November 1991 - Kičić, Dragica/Sava (Ilija), born 13 June 1937,
date of death: 15 August 1991 / 21 November 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, police report mentions death by fire - Kičić, Petar (Ivo), born 1 May 1934 / 1 January 1951,
date of death: 15 August 1991 / 21 November 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, police report mentions death by fire - Kladar, Milan (Dušan), born 26 August 1940,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Komosar, Dušan (Petar), born 15 May 1927,
date of death: 19 October 1991 - Končar, Stanko (-), born -,
date of death: 2 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Kovačević, Kuzman/Kuzma (Ilija), born 5 July 1937,
date of death: 10/11 August 1993, circumstances of death not confirmed, possible murder not directly related to war activities - Kragulj, Radovan (Dragoljub), born 2 February 1955,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Kušić, Nedjeljko (Danilo), born 4 February 1929,
date of death: 5/6 February 1992 - Kušić, Petar (Nedjeljko), born 12 May 1956 / 1966,
date of death: 5/6 February 1992 - Letić, Đorđe (Ilija), born 2 May 1934,
date of death: 6 August 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, autopsy indicates carbon monoxide poisoning; wife doubts authenticity of findings - Lovrić, Ljuban (Vojo), born 10 September 1946,
date of death: 25 November 1991 - Lukač, Branko (Janko), born 21 October 1933,
date of death: 1 January 1993, circumstances of death not confirmed, possible accident - Lukač, Đuro (Miladin), born 25 July 1955,
date of death: 16 August 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed - Lukić, Stanko (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Martić, Ilija (Ilija), born 2 August 1945,
date of death: 26 August 1991 - Martinović, Ranko (Nikola), born 5 September 1940,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Martinović, Stanko (Janko), 12 born February 1939,
date of death: 23 September 1991 - Miočinović, Dragan (Stevo), born 4 January 1937,
date of death: 2 September 1991 - Miodrag, Stojan (Đuro), born 2 February 1950 / 7 February 1950,
date of death: 10 September 1991 - Mitrović, Đorđe/Đorđo (Miloš), born 30 June 1962,
date of death: 27/29 March 1992, the search for mortal remains is still ongoing - Nikolić, Gradoljub (Živko), born 15 May 1963,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Novaković, Vaso (-), born 1 January 1945,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Obradović, Dejan (Pero), born 1 January 1977,
date of death: 1/30 September 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Obradović, Jovanka (Pero), born 1 January 1979,
date of death: 1/30 September 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Obradović, Milja (-), born 1 January 1955,
date of death: 1/30 September 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Obradović, Pero (-), born 1 January 1950,
date of death: 1/30 September 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Obradović, Vaso (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed - Oljača, Branko (Ljuban), born 13 November 1955,
date of death: 24 August 1991 - Ostojić, Rade (Jovo), born 5 July 1940,
date of death: 29 October / 12 November 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, found hanged; pathology report suggests likely suicide - Pajagić, Petar (Mirko), born 10/12 July 1932,
date of death: 20/23 September 1991, missing - Pajić, Nenad (Jovan/Jovo), born 1 January 1951,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Palija, Pero — not a victim
- Pandurić, Đuro (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Pavičić, Igor / real name Domagoj (Milivoj), born 4 March 1970,
date of death: 2 July 1991, according to a special police report from the Sisak-Moslavina Police, this is Domagoj Pavičić with a different birth date. The event is unrelated to war; murder in an apartment building by a neighbour. Croat by nationality - Pavić, Miljenko (Vlajko), born 19 September 1958,
date of death: 23 September 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, the Sisak Police Department report indicates person is recorded as deceased since 19 September 1996 - Pavljanić, Nikola (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Rajšić, Dragan (Đuro), born 31 May 1927,
date of death: 26/28 August 1991, the search for mortal remains is still ongoing - Rapajić, Dragan (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, not a victim - Ratković, Stevo (Jovan), born 14 February 1925,
date of death: 17 September / 2 October 1991 - Simić, Stevo (Matija), born 3 August 1937,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Slijepčević, Slavko (Lazo), born 29 October 1939,
date of death: 15 November 1991 - Solar, Ljubica (Jovo/Jovan), born 10 May 1972,
date of death: 17 September 1991 - Stanić, Lazo (Milan), born 4 March 1934,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Stevanović, Milovan (-), born 9 January 1931,
not a war victim. - Stevanović, Vera (-), born 28 July 1932,
not a war victim. - Sundać, Dragan (Savo/Savan), born 26 December 1932,
date of death: 4 February 1992, missing - Svetić, Vlado (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Škrebac, Željko (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Španović, Rade (Dragan), born 2 October 1935,
date of death: 6/14 September 1991 - Špoljar, Miloš /Mićo (Stojan), born 28 April 1951,
date of death: 23 September 1991 - Šušnjar, Đuro (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Tatišić, Ljuban (Mirko), born 8 May 1932,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Trbulin, Vojislav (Mile), born 10 November 1934,
date of death: 20/23 September 1991, missing - Trivkanović, Nikola (Pero), born 19 December 1943,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Trivkanović, Zoran (Nikola), born 29 January 1967,
date of death: 25 August 1991, missing - Trivkanović, Berislav (Nikola), born 8 March 1973,
date of death: 25 August 1991, missing - Vasiljević, Milorad (-), born -,
date of death: 1/31 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed, most likely not a war victim - Vejnović, Nedeljko (Lazo), born 15 March / 19 April 1953,
date of death: 24 August 1991 - Vergaš, Vatroslav (Milorad), born 23 June 1959,
date of death: 29 November 1991 - Vila, Dušan (Marko), born 21 October 1951,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Vila, Evica (Milan), born 1 July 1933,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Vila, Marko (Dušan/Jovo), born 18 October 1928,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Vila, Mladen (Marko), born 24 July 1951,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Vila, Željko (Marko), born 11 May 1963,
date of death: 25 August 1991 - Vojnović, Ivan (Mihajlo), born 26 May 1935,
date of death: 27 September 1991, circumstances of death not confirmed, police report states it was a traffic accident - Vranešević, Mladen (Stojan), born 19 March 1938,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Vranešević, Zoran (Mladen), born 28 September 1965,
date of death: 23 August 1991 - Vučinić, Milan (Boško), born 31 October 1944,
date of death: 22 August 1991* - Vujačić, Draga (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Vujačić, Dragan (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991,identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Vujnović, Đuro (Ljuban), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Vujnović, Ljuban (Jovo), born 16 April 1958,
date of death: 1 August 1991, identity and circumstances of death not confirmed - Vukotić, Bogdan (Mirko), born 11 January 1950,
date of death: 11 March 1992, circumstances of death not confirmed - Zdjelar, Vukašin (-), born -,
date of death: 1 August 1991. Identity and circumstances of death not confirmed, most likely not a war victim - Zlokapa, Simo/Simenon (Đuro/Đorđe), born 3 April 1920,
date of death: 19 September 1991 - Žilić, Damjan (Dušan), born 5 February 1939,
date of death: 23 November 1991 - Živković, Stana (Dušan), born 15 March 1923,
date of death: 1 August 1991 / 15 March 1992, circumstances of death not confirmed. Possibly not a war victim. According to the Sisak Police, the person is recorded as deceased since 2004
Judicial consequences: In 2011, the County State Prosecutor’s Office in Osijek filed charges against Vladimir Milanković, former deputy chief of the Sisak Police Department, and Drago Bošnjak, a member of the Sisak Police Department reserve unit, for the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population. On December 9, 2013, the War Crimes Council of the County Court in Osijek announced a verdict sentencing Vladimir Milanković to seven years in prison for war crimes against the civilian population and two years for war crimes against prisoners of war, resulting in a combined sentence of eight years in prison. Drago Bošnjak was acquitted of the charges. On June 10, 2014, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia upheld the first-instance verdict of the County Court in Osijek, revising Vladimir Milanković’s sentence to a unified prison term of ten years. Charges of war crimes against the civilian population based on command responsibility were also filed against Đuro Brodarac, but the proceedings were terminated due to his death in custody in 2011. No one has been held accountable for the deaths of all victims attributed to Đuro Brodarac in the indictment.
None of the direct perpetrators of crimes against Serbs in Sisak have been criminally prosecuted.