On June 22, 1991, Slovenia and Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, triggering the breakup of the country into separate republics. The move was met with resistance from the Yugoslav Peoples Army, leading to violent clashes and the eventual onset of the Yugoslav Wars. The conflict escalated into a series of brutal ethnic wars, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of millions. The dissolution of Yugoslavia fundamentally reshaped the Balkans and introduced new political borders. The wars and ethnic tensions still impact the region today.