KFOR and Kosovo +25

Conflict in the Balkans

During the 1990s, ethnic unrest was growing throughout Kosovo an autonomous province of Yugoslavia.

Serbian forces began a campaign of oppression targeting Albanian settlements until, by 1998, it is estimated that at least 250,000 Kosovar Albanians had suffered forced displacement from their homes.

As a response, the NATO alliance assembled a peacekeeping force, KFOR, which included over 4,000 British troops. The 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers played a key role within KFOR, and on 12th June 1999, they deployed into Kosovo to help establish a secure environment and to promote stability in the region.

To this day, Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state and a KFOR peace implementation force is still deployed there.

KFOR and Kosovo +25

This video offers a unique glimpse into the experiences of the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers during their deployment to Kosovo in 2000. Hear firsthand accounts from soldiers who served on the ground, as they describe their daily lives, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their mission on the local population. Explore the complexities of peacekeeping operations in a post-conflict environment, including cultural differences, the discovery of mass graves, and the delicate balance between maintaining security and fostering stability.