Lipkovo crisis

Fighting in Lipkovo began on March 28, 2001, with loud explosions that could be heard from the vicinity of the village.[9] The conflict primarily centered around the strategically important lake in the area.[1] On May 3, 2001, the NLA infiltrated Lipkovo and neighboring villages, triggering a Macedonian offensive. However, the offensive was later halted as the NLA showed no signs of withdrawing.[10][11] Unlike the other villages, Lipkovo remained relatively calm from May 8 to June 2, 2001.[12] Nevertheless, heavy fighting escalated when the NLA launched an attack on Macedonian forces defending the Lipkovo Dam, resulting in the NLA gaining control of the dam.[13][1] This NLA takeover of the crucial Lake Lipkovo, which supplied water to over 100,000 inhabitants of Kumanovo, prompted an immediate Macedonian response. On June 11, an offensive was launched with the aim of retaking the dam.[1][13] However, Macedonian forces announced later that same day that they had ceased all operations in the Lipkovo region.[14] On June 18th, after a period of five days marked by negotiations and discussions, the NLA militants permitted a convoy led by OSCE representatives, which included expert teams from a Water Supply Company, to enter the village. The potential disaster that posed a threat to over 100,000 Kumanovo citizens who had been without water supply for 12 days was effectively over, thus ending the crisis.[15] The village would remain under the control of NLA until the end of the conflict in Macedonia. On December 19, 2001, Macedonian police reestablished control after re-entering the village.[16]