DOCUMENTED MASSACRES
This page presents documented massacres and mass killings committed against Kosovo’s Albanian population during the 1998–1999 Kosovo War.
27 April 1999
MassacreMejë and Korenicë
On 27 April 1999, Serb police stopped a column of about 500 Albanian civilians near Mejë. The source records 376 Albanians killed in Mejë and nearby Korenicë, with some people still missing.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 91 / PDF p. 92.
25–27 March 1999
MassacreKrushë e Madhe
From 25 to 27 March 1999, Serbian police and paramilitary forces killed and mutilated 241 people in Krushë e Madhe, including 206 residents and 35 displaced people; 70 inhabitants were considered missing.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
17 April 1999
MassacreÇikatovë e Vjetër
On 17 April 1999, 128 inhabitants of Çikatovë e Vjetër and other villages were killed and mutilated.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 89 / PDF p. 90.
2 May 1999
MassacreStudime and other villages
On 2 May 1999, Serb police, army and paramilitaries killed 116 people from Studime and other villages, including children, women, men and elderly people.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 91 / PDF p. 92.
28 March 1999
MassacreIzbicë
On 28 March 1999, Serbian forces surrounded civilians assembled in Izbicë, separated men from women and executed 114 people.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 84 / PDF p. 85.
26 March 1999
Mass killingKrushë e Vogël
On 26 March 1999, Serbian police, paramilitary and military forces killed and mutilated 113 people from Krushë e Vogël and surrounding places.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
31 March 1999
MassacrePastaselë
On 31 March 1999, 106 civilian residents and displaced people were executed in Pastaselë of Rahovec; the source states that their bodies were taken to an unknown location.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
2–4 April 1999
MassacreKralan
From 2 to 4 April 1999, over 87 inhabitants were killed and mutilated in Kralan; the source says that most were from Klinë, Malisheva and Gjakova municipalities.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 87 / PDF p. 88.
25 March 1999
Mass killingCelinë
On 25 March 1999, 82 people of different ages were killed and mutilated in Celinë, including residents and people from adjacent villages.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
18 and 19 April 1999
Mass killingKoliq
On 18 and 19 April 1999, more than 74 people from various villages, mostly from the Llap region, were killed in Koliq.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
1 April 1999
MassacreLybeniq
On 1 April 1999, 60 civilian inhabitants were killed in Lybeniq of Pejë.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
21 April 1999
MassacreGrashticë
On 21 April 1999, 60 civilian men from a displaced-persons column were shot in Grashticë, mutilated and thrown into a river.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
5–7 March 1998
MassacrePrekaz
From 5 to 7 March 1998, an attack on Prekaz killed as many as 59 residents, including 55 from the Jashari neighbourhood.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 80 / PDF p. 81.
9 April 1999
Mass killingPërroi i Rakocit and Lagjja e Re
On 9 April 1999, 58 Albanian martyrs and victims were killed and mutilated at Përroi i Rakocit and in Lagjja e Re of Kaçanik.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 88 / PDF p. 89.
Night of 24–25 March 1999
Mass killingTërnje
On the night of 24–25 March 1999, Serbian paramilitary forces entered Tërnje and killed 46 civilians, including elderly people, women, children and people sheltering from nearby villages.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 84 / PDF p. 85.
25 March 1999
MassacreBellacerkë
On 25 March 1999, Serbian paramilitary, military and police forces killed, mutilated and burned 46 Albanian residents in Bellacerkë.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
4 April 1999
Mass killingÇypevë e Epërme
On 4 April 1999, Serbian military forces killed 45 inhabitants from Çypevë e Epërme and five other named villages.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 87 / PDF p. 88.
26 March 1999
MassacreSuharekë (Berisha and other families)
On 26 March 1999, 44 civilian inhabitants of the Berisha and other families in Suharekë were killed and mutilated; the source states that their bodies were transported to Serbia.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 84 / PDF p. 85.
15 January 1999
MassacreReçak
On 15 January 1999, Serbian paramilitaries killed and mutilated 43 inhabitants of Reçak in a massacre of the village’s civilian population.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 82 / PDF p. 83.
20 April 1999
MassacreMakoc
On 20 April 1999, 42 people were killed in Makoc of Prishtina and their bodies were publicly mutilated.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
15 and 16 April 1999
MassacreSllovi (Lugu i Demës)
On 15 and 16 April 1999, 41 civilian inhabitants were killed and mutilated at Lugu i Demës in Sllovi of Lipjan.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 89 / PDF p. 90.
17 April 1999
Mass killingPoklek i Vjetër
On 17 April 1999, the Serb army and police killed, burned and mutilated 41 Kosovo Albanians in Poklek i Vjetër.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
5 April 1999
MassacreRezallë
On 5 April 1999, Serbian forces entered Rezallë, separated men from women and children, and executed 38 civilians after mistreatment.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 87 / PDF p. 88.
2 April 1999
Mass killingSopi and other villages
On 2 April 1999, 35 Albanians were executed in Sopi and other villages of Suharekë municipality.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 87 / PDF p. 88.
31 March 1999
MassacreBurim (Joviq)
On 31 March 1999, 34 people were killed in Burim (Joviq) of Malisheva; the source states that their bodies were mutilated the following day.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
1, 2, 10 and 12 May 1999
Mass killingNabërgjan
On 1, 2, 10 and 12 May 1999, Serbian military and paramilitary forces attacked Nabërgjan of Pejë, killing and mutilating 30 people.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 91 / PDF p. 92.
20 March 1999
MassacreSkënderaj / Te Pishat
On 20 March 1999, the Skënderaj massacre killed 29 civilians; the source says eight were executed at Te Pishat and others were killed in homes and courtyards.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 82 / PDF p. 83.
25 March 1999
Mass killingGoden
On 25 March 1999, 28 Albanians were killed in Goden and their bodies were burned.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
29 January 1999
MassacreRogovë
On 29 January 1999, a massacre in Rogovë killed 26 Albanians, including nine village residents and 16 KLA members.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 82 / PDF p. 83.
14 April 1999
Mass killingQendra and Bair neighbourhoods
On 14 April 1999, 26 men rounded up in Mitrovicë’s Qendra neighbourhood were shot in three houses in the Bair neighbourhood.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 89 / PDF p. 90.
18 April 1999
Mass killingRibar i Vogël
On 18 April 1999, 25 civilians were killed in Ribar i Vogël, including 19 local residents and six people sheltering from Vërshec.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
28 February–1 March 1998
MassacreLikoshan and Qirez
From 28 February to 1 March 1998, 24 inhabitants of Qirez, Likoshan and nearby places were killed. Ten victims belonged to the Ahmeti family, and pregnant women were among those killed.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 80 / PDF p. 81.
22–24 September 1998
Mass killingÇyçavicë
From 22 to 24 September 1998, Serbian army, police, armed civilians and paramilitaries killed 24 Albanians in Çyçavicë; the source says six were killed with hammers.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 81 / PDF p. 82.
26 March 1999
Mass killingLandovicë
On 26 March 1999, heavily armed Serb soldiers shelled a house sheltering residents in Landovicë, killing 23 people from the village and other localities.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 84 / PDF p. 85.
26 September 1998
MassacreAbri e Epërme
On 26 September 1998, Serbian forces killed and massacred 22 members of the Deliu family in Abri e Epërme, from a six-month-old infant to an 84-year-old woman.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 81 / PDF p. 82.
24 March 1999
Mass killingKotlinë
On 24 March 1999, 22 people were executed and mutilated in Kotlinë; the source says their bodies were placed in two wells that were later blasted.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 82 / PDF p. 83.
28 March 1999
Mass killingMatiçan
On 28 March 1999, Serb forces killed 21 people in Matiçan, including several male and female students.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
22 April 1999
Mass killingKoliq
On 22 April 1999, Serbian forces killed 21 people in a column of displaced persons in Koliq.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
26 March 1999
MassacrePadalishtë (Imeraj neighbourhood)
On 26 March 1999, 19 members of the Imeraj family, aged between two and 76, were killed in Padalishtë of Istog.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 84 / PDF p. 85.
28 March 1999
MassacrePodujevë
On 28 March 1999, 19 members of the Duriqi, Bogujevci, Llugaliu and Gashi families were killed in Podujevë.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
21 April 1999
MassacreNakaradë
On 21 April 1999, 16 members of the Mirena family were murdered in Nakaradë of Fushë Kosovë.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 90 / PDF p. 91.
26 September 1998
MassacreGullboc
On 26 September 1998, Serbian forces separated 14 people from their families near Gullboc, beat them, fired on them and executed them; one person survived by chance.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 81 / PDF p. 82.
30 March 1999
MassacreLlashticë
On 30 March 1999, 13 civilian residents were killed in Llashticë, including the three-year-old child Fisnik Ramadani.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
16 April 1999
MassacreSkënderaj
On 16 April 1999, 13 people were executed in what the source describes as the second massacre in Skënderaj.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 89 / PDF p. 90.
15–17 September 1998
Mass killingShala e Bajgorës villages
From 15 to 17 September 1998, Serbian army, police, armed civilians and paramilitaries killed 12 Albanians in the Shala e Bajgorës villages during an operation that also involved forced expulsion and destruction.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 81 / PDF p. 82.
August 1998
MassacreRancë, between Topillë and Grejçec
In August 1998, Serbian shelling between Topillë and Grejçec killed eight children and three women of the Selim Asllani family who were on a tractor.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 82 / PDF p. 83.
29 August 1998
MassacreSushicë e Poshtme
On 29 August 1998, Serb police killed and massacred eight members of the Salihaj family in Sushicë e Poshtme.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 81 / PDF p. 82.
6 April 1999
MassacreBardhaniq
On 6 April 1999, seven people from villages in the Deçan and Pejë municipalities were killed in a house in Bardhaniq, and their bodies were burned.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 88 / PDF p. 89.
24–25 March 1999
Mass killingPodujevë
On 24 and 25 March 1999, police reservists killed a great number of residents in Podujevë; a witness reported seeing 36 bodies.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 83 / PDF p. 84.
28 March 1999
MassacreBeleg
On 28 March 1999, a massacre of civilians occurred in Beleg; the source reports 66 people from Beleg and nearby villages as killed and disappeared.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 85 / PDF p. 86.
4 April 1999
Mass killingPopovë
On 4 April 1999, Serbian military aircraft bombed refugees sheltering in a valley at Popovë. The source reports a great number killed and injured, including children.
Source: Jusuf Osmani, Serb Government’s Crimes in Kosova 1998–1999, Book 1, printed p. 87 / PDF p. 88.