Ratko Mladić was born on March 12, 1942, in the village of Božanovići, Kalinovik municipality, in the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He graduated from the Military Academy of the Ground Forces in Belgrade and began his professional military career in the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).
He served in various command positions throughout the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, he was appointed Commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska, where he played a key role in organizing and leading military operations during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Throughout the war, he was considered one of the most influential military figures in Republika Srpska. His name remains noted in modern Serbian history as a general who led the army during one of the most challenging periods for the Serbian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.