Candles All Over Croatia For Vukovar Anniversary

Thousands of Croats all over Croatia are lightening candles tonight to commemorate those who were killed during the siege in Vukovar in eastern Croatian during the war that torn through the city in the 1990’s.

This year is the 21st anniversary since the fall of the city of Vukovar and it is traditionally observed on 18 November with candles being lite all over the country. Vukovar was heavily damaged during the Croatian War of Independence. Approximately 2,000 people defended the city for 87 days against approximately 36,000 Yugoslav Army Troops. The city suffered heavy damage during the siege and was eventually overrun. It is estimated that 2,000 defenders of Vukovar and civilians were killed, 800 went missing and 22,000 civilians were forced into exile.