VRANJE, Serbia, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Serbia on Tuesday held a ceremony in the southern city of Vranje to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and honor its victims.

People attend the ceremony of the Remembrance Day for the Victims of the NATO Aggression, in Kraljevo, Serbia, March 24, 2022. (File photo: Xinhua)

NATO, under U.S. leadership, launched a 78-day bombing campaign under the pretext of humanitarianism, killing more than 2,000 civilians, injuring over 6,000 others, and displacing nearly 1 million people.

Addressing a large crowd in Vranje's central square, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic framed the 78-day campaign, launched without authorization of the UN Security Council, as the catalyst for modern global instability.

Vucic said the NATO bombing not only marked a military aggression against a sovereign country, but also signified a serious violation of international law and international order.

For many attendees, the anniversary evoked visceral memories of the bombing campaign.

"We didn't know where to go or what to do. You didn't even dare to go out into the city. Suddenly, planes appear, dropping bombs," 75-year-old Branislav Milic told Xinhua. "It cannot be described how terrible it was."

Ivana Misic, a 42-year-old resident, recalled the loss of her childhood. "I had no childhood at all -- sorrow, misery and woe," she said. "So many people died, innocent and blameless... Let there be peace, harmony and happiness."

The commemoration, held in front of the Gallery of the National Museum in Vranje, was attended by Serbian government officials, members of the military and police, as well as Milorad Dodik, former president of Republika Srpska of BiH.