Greek Navy captain Marinos Ritsoudis refused to participate in the bombing of Yugoslavia in any way. Credit: Instagram/Greek ReporterGreek Navy Captain Marinos Ritsoudis became famous internationally after he refused to participate in a NATO mission as the organization conducted bombings in Yugoslavia in 1999.
In that year, NATO countries, including the US, conducted an aerial bombing campaign on what is now Serbia, and was part of Yugoslavia then, during the Kosovo War.
Human Rights Watch estimates that nearly 600 civilians were killed in the bombings, while Yugoslav estimates at the time numbered in the thousands.
As a member of NATO, Greece was compelled to assist in the campaign, which involved sending one of its warships, “Themistoklis,” to the Adriatic Sea to assist in a blockade of Serbia.
The ship was meant to assist in preventing Serbia from receiving any assistance by sea, therefore it would be indirectly participating in the bombings.
