Obilježena 30. obljetnica VRO Bljesak u Okučanima: Bila je to briljantna operacija | Foto: MORH/ T. Brandt
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Flash Military Constabulary Operation at Okučani: It was a brilliant operation
We showed readiness, morale and will. The operation was carried out professionally, Colonel Žukina said, Commander of the Artillery-Missile Regiment and participant in Flash
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the military-constabulary operation Flash, the Republic of Croatia proudly recalls one of the key operations of the Homeland War, which liberated Western Slavonia in just 31 hours and established sovereignty over that part of the state’s territory.
Today, on 1 May 2025, thirty years after the Flash, the anniversary of this operation was marked at Okučani with deep respect for the sacrifice and courage of the Croatian defenders in order to preserve the memory of the days when Croatia was created.
Rafale overflight in honour of all Croatian war veterans
The central ceremony was held at Kocka vedrine (Cube of Serenity) memorial, with a musical program and overflight by Rafale fighter jets.
Two Rafale multi-role fighter jets paid tribute to all Croatian veterans who participated in the military-constabulary operation Flash with the overflight. The airplanes flew over the wider area where the military-constabulary operation Flash was conducted and with their overflight greeted the settlements and towns in that area.
A mass was served in the church of St. Vid for all fallen Croatian veterans and civilian victims of the Homeland War.
Operation Flash demonstrated the immense capabilities of the Croatian Army and police
On this occasion, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković emphasized that Flash was a crucial operation, which marked the end of the Greater Serbian aggression and opened the way to Operation Storm and the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region. “With this, Croatia became a territorially integral state. We won the Homeland War and we must be proud of that,” he said, emphasizing the importance to respect all defenders, especially those who died and their families.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković thanked all Croatian war veterans, soldiers and police officers who participated in MCO Flash. He emphasized that this operation demonstrated the full strength of the Croatian Armed Forces. “Operation Flash demonstrated the great capability of the Croatian Army and police to independently liberate part of the then occupied territory,” he said.
Colonel Žukina: It was a brilliant operation. All plans that were put forwards were implemented precisely and efficiently
Commander of the Guards Armoured Motorized Brigade’s (GOMBR) Artillery-Missile Regiment Colonel Marijan Žukina, recalled the implementation of the MCO Flash. He pointed out that, in a way, it was a continuation of the military operations of liberation from 1991. “We were preparing and waiting for the order that arrived exactly 30 years ago, on 1 May, at exactly 5:21 a.m., when this operation of liberation began. We showed readiness, morale and will. The operation was carried out professionally and it lasted less than 32 hours. All the plans that were made were implemented precisely and efficiently. It was a brilliant operation,” Žukina concluded.
The mother of Croatian war veteran Davor Hegedić who was killed in the MCO Flash, Nada Hegedić, said that even after 30 years she feels deep sadness for the loss of her son, but also great pride because his sacrifice, as well as the sacrifice of all war veterans, brought freedom and peace to Croatia. She thanked the young members of the Croatian Army and police and called on them to be proud of their service. “Always be proud of your uniform and wear it with honour, never forget that you are the guardians of freedom. May readiness, loyalty and courage be your guides at all times,” she said.
Exhibition of weapons and equipment; attractive exercises by members of the Croatian Army and police
On this occasion, a tactical and technical assembly of the CAF and the Ministry of the Interior was held, along with exhibition of military equipment and weapons, as well as combat and non-combat ordnance. Croatian Army presented Patria and Bradley combat vehicles, the M-84 tank, howitzers, Vulkan and Grad missile systems, the Mistral air defence system, demining equipment and infantry weapons. The Ministry of Interior presented the equipment of Anti-Terrorist Unit Lučko, including the Terradyne Gurkha vehicle and diving equipment. Civil defence and protection displayed advanced rescue equipment, and the Red Cross demonstrated equipment for crisis situations.
The programme included attractive exercises carried out by members of the Croatian Army and police, including: a joint parachute jump with national flags, a demonstration of work of the MP service dogs, a tactical exercise of extracting from enemy territory with a Black Hawk helicopter, and demonstration exercises by ATJ Lučko, including martial arts, arresting dangerous persons and combat rescue of pilots.
Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the MCO Flash at Okučani was attended by President of the Republic of Croatia and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, the Vice President of the Croatian Parliament Academician Željko Reiner, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian War Veterans Tomo Medved, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Tomislav Galić, Chief of the CAF General Staff LTG Tihomir Kundid, and numerous other representatives of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, veterans’ associations, and family members of the fallen veterans.
