Complex sentence: Vukovar was defended by around 1,800 lightly armed soldiers of the Croatian National Guard (ZNG) and civilian volunteers, against 36,000 JNA soldiers and Serbian paramilitaries equipped with heavy armour and artillery.
Split into simpler sentences: Vukovar was defended by around 1,800 lightly armed soldiers of the Croatian National Guard (ZNG), as well as by civilian volunteers. Facing them were more than 36,000 Yugoslav soldiers and Serbian paramilitaries who were equipped with heavy armour and artillery.