Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st Anniversary of Operation Storm Commemorated in Knin

Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm were solemnly commemorated today in Knin. The event was attended by Croatia’s state leadership, Homeland War veterans, members of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and numerous citizens.

Ivan Anušić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, stated that being in Knin fills him primarily with pride and happiness because Croatia achieved what few believed was possible.

“What began in 1991 was completed in 1995. We brought the war to an end and secured victory. Today, we have a free and independent Croatian state – a member of all the Euro-Atlantic institutions we aspired to join. We have achieved what generations dreamed of and for which countless lives were sacrificed,” the minister said.

He emphasised that Operation Storm was the largest and most successful military and police operation in Croatian history and paid tribute to all Croatian defenders who laid down their lives for the nation’s freedom.

“We are here to pay tribute to them, to remember those times and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to reunite with our fellow veterans with whom we shared those historic days,” Minister Anušić said. He added that Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the anniversary of Operation Storm should be commemorated in a spirit of unity, with the shared goal of building a stronger and more resilient Croatia for the future.

Ceremony Participants Highlight Operation Storm’s Legacy

In their addresses, speakers highlighted the importance of preserving the truth about the Homeland War, fostering national unity, and maintaining lasting respect for veterans.

Robert Puja, President of the 7th Guards Brigade Veterans Association, said that his memories of the events of August 1995 remain as vivid as ever. “It was a magnificent victorious operation in which the vast majority of the temporarily occupied territory of the Republic of Croatia was liberated within a very short period. That is why August 5th will forever remain a symbol of Croatia’s victory, unity, and freedom,” he said.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described Operation Storm as a turning point in Croatian history. “Operation Storm was a brilliant military victory, a legitimate liberation operation, and the crowning achievement of Croatia’s struggle for freedom,” he said, adding that Croatia continues to invest in strengthening its defence capabilities in response to contemporary security challenges. “Investing in defence is not preparation for war; it is an investment in peace and the security of our citizens.”

Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković emphasized that Operation Storm was a just liberation operation that liberated the vast part of Croatia’s temporarily occupied territory paving the way for the successful conclusion of the Homeland War. “No historical revisionism can challenge that historical fact,” he stated.

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović expressed his gratitude to Homeland War veterans for their sacrifice in securing Croatia’s freedom. He stressed that there is no greater gift or brighter legacy for the Croatian people than the freedom they fought for and won. He noted that for the armed forces to remain resilient, steadfast, and victorious, they must adapt to the challenges of a new era.

Ceremonial Programme

The official commemoration traditionally began with a morning wake-up call march through the streets of Knin, followed by a Holy Mass celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Covenant. Wreaths were laid and candles lit at the Croatian Victory Monument Storm ’95 in memory of fallen, deceased, and missing Croatian defenders, with prayers led by the Military Ordinary in the Republic of Croatia, Monsignor Jure Bogdan.

The central ceremony was held at the NK Dinara Stadium. It featured the raising of the Croatian flag at the Knin Fortress, the intonation of the national anthem, the reading of both the history of Operation Storm and the names of fallen and missing Croatian defenders. In honour of the anniversary, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, a 31-gun ceremonial salute was fired, followed by a minute of silence was observed in tribute to the killed, missing, and deceased defenders. Tribute was also paid with a flyover by three Rafale multirole fighter aircraft of the Croatian Air Force.

Homeland War veterans, family members of fallen Croatian defenders, members of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, and veterans of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) participated in the ceremonial raising of the national flag at the Knin Fortress.

Brigadier General Željko Ljubas, Commander of the Command Operations Centre of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, submitted the official report to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the CAF, Zoran Milanović.

Brigadier General Željko Ljubas stated that Operation Storm was the “operation of all operations” and the greatest victory in Croatian history, which continues to be studied at military academies and analysed worldwide. He added that he views Operation Storm both from the perspective of a veteran and as an active participant.

Throughout the day, the programme featured performances by the Croatian Navy’s Klapa Sveti Juraj, the Ministry of the Interior’s Klapa Sveti Mihovil, and soloists Dubravka Šeparović Mušović and Đani Stipaničev.

Demonstration Exercises by the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior and the Croatian Air Force Flight Programme

As part of the afternoon programme, the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior demonstrated their capabilities through a joint parachute jump by members of the Special Operations Command and the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit. Following a flyover by a Mi-171Sh helicopter from the 93rd Wing of the Croatian Air Force, four parachutists jumped while carrying national flags, executing precise landings in front of the gathered citizens.

Particular attention was drawn to the demonstration exercise in which the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior showcased their capabilities to conduct a joint counter-terrorism operation. The exercise involved members of the Intelligence Regiment, Special Operations Command, the Air Force, and the Special Police of the Ministry of the Interior, utilising unmanned systems, FPV drones, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, UH-60M Black Hawk, and AW139 helicopters of the Special Police Aviation Unit of the Ministry of the Interior.

The programme continued with a performance by the Croatian Air Force aerobatic team “Wings of Storm” and concluded with a demonstration of the Rafale multirole fighter aircraft’s operational capabilities.

Citizens and the Croatian Armed Forces at the Ceremony

A tactical and technical display attracted great public interest, where the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Civil Protection Directorate, and the Croatian Firefighting Association presented their equipment, weapons, and vehicles. Visitors had the opportunity to view Patria armoured vehicles in several configurations, M-ATV and HMMWV tactical vehicles, the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, the Mistral-3 air defence system, logistics vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, modern infantry weapons, and other military equipment.

At the Croatian Armed Forces promotional booth, citizens had the opportunity to learn about military career development opportunities, basic military training, and the military profession.

The Republic of Croatia Pays Tribute to All Homeland War Veterans

By commemorating Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, the Republic of Croatia once again paid tribute to all veterans who defended the homeland. The event reaffirmed the nation’s enduring commitment to preserving the values of the Homeland War, developing the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces, and strengthening the security of the Republic of Croatia.

Operation Storm lasted from August 4th to 7th, 1995, with approximately 200,000 soldiers and police officers participating in its execution. During the operation, 243 defenders were killed, 1,430 were wounded, and two remain listed as missing.