Operation Sudbina

The operation was launched on 3 August 1992 along the entire Blatnica–Banja Vrućica front line. Over the next few days, the VRS made small gains and captured the villages of Gornja Vrućica, Studenci and Rajševa. On 10 August, the ARBiH and HVO defense line collapsed. Due to the impossibility of further effective resistance on 10 August, a decision was made to withdraw via Dubrava and Novi Šeher towards Žepče. On that day, the VRS captured the following villages: Komušina Gornja, Komušina Donja, Rajševa, Slatina, Kamenica, Dubrava, Kopice, Papratnica, Brezove Dane, Lugovi and parts of other villages, the VRS captured over 120 square kilometers in this operation, the HVO and ARBiH suffered 52 killed and 220 wounded soldiers.^[2][3][4][5]

During the Operation, a VRS Independent Muslim Unit Meša Selimović was active, as their military activities were high on the Teslić battlefield.^[6][7][8]

The Derventa Brigade arrived on the Teslić battlefield on November 12, 1992, and deployed in the Banja Vrućica area, after which heavy fighting for Straža and Hatkina Njiva immediately began. Despite initial successes and incursions into HVO trenches, the attacks were halted due to the extremely fortified enemy, minefields, and the wounding of key officers, including the commander of the 3rd Battalion, Ratko Desić. After unsuccessful attempts to capture Hatkina Njiva and conduct reconnaissance in the Slatina area, at a meeting with Colonel Lisica on December 1, 1992. There, the situation was analyzed and a change in the direction of operations was agreed. According to the order of the OG Doboj, the brigade moved to the new direction Stanari–Stanovi, where it occupied the line near Smajine vode and conducted reconnaissance of enemy positions. The period was also marked by significant personnel changes in the command of the 1st and 3rd battalions, as well as the strengthening of military discipline in order to fill the battle lines.^[9]