Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serb general dubbed the ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ dies aged 84
Ratko Mladić, the notorious Bosnian-Serb general convicted of war crimes and genocide and known as the ‘Butcher of Bosnia,’ has died at the age of 84.
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Ratko Mladić, the notorious Bosnian-Serb general dubbed the "Butcher of Bosnia," has died at the age of 84. Mladić passed away on August 27, 2026, due to a stroke while serving a life sentence in a United Nations detention center in The Hague.
He had been convicted in 2017 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his actions during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. These convictions, which included his involvement in the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, were ultimately upheld on appeal in 2021.
Mladić commanded the Army of Republika Srpska throughout the conflict, during which forces under his leadership were responsible for the deaths of thousands. Despite his failing health and repeated attempts by his legal team to secure compassionate release, he remained incarcerated until his death.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: reports his death and his nickname 'Butcher of Bosnia'
- BBC: confirms the death of the convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal
- AJ: notes the death of the convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal
- The Guardian: details his death and references the 'fight for the memory of genocide in Srebrenica'