Croatia honors Operation Storm (Oluja) anniversary with tribute to Veterans
Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans, Tomo Medved, said the anniversary of Operation Storm (Oluja) should remind Croatians of their unity and courage in defending and liberating their homeland.
"May this anniversary remind us of the strength of our unity and the courage we showed in defending and liberating our homeland. May Croatian flags fly across our beautiful country in memory of the days of pride and glory," Medved said.
In his message to Croatian veterans, the families of fallen, missing, and deceased veterans, and all Croatian patriots, Medved stressed that the day is an opportunity to proudly remember all military and police operations that led to Croatia's final victory in the Homeland War, CE Report informs via Croatia's government website.
"We are grateful to everyone who bravely defended our homeland, especially those who gave their lives for our freedom and independence," he said.
Medved described Operation Storm as the decisive operation that brought the Homeland War to an end. Led by Croatia's first president, Franjo Tuđman, Croatian forces liberated most of the occupied territory and restored the country's territorial integrity.
"Operation Storm was not only a military victory but also a triumph of determination, patriotism, and the unwavering resolve to win freedom. During the operation, we demonstrated the strength and unity of the Croatian Army, the police, Croatian veterans, and the Croatian people at home and abroad," Medved said.
He added that the Homeland War remains the foundation of Croatia's statehood, while Operation Storm represents the culmination of the country's wartime efforts. The Croatian flag raised over the Knin Fortress, he said, symbolizes victory in the Homeland War.
Medved also stated that Croatia has achieved its key strategic, political, and national goals since gaining independence and pledged to continue building the country on the foundations of its past, emphasizing that Croatia's freedom and independence were earned through sacrifice rather than granted.
Speaking in the town of Hrvatska Dubica—the first municipal center liberated during Operation Storm on August 4, 1995—Medved said the operation must always be viewed in the context of what he described as the Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia.
"The Homeland War did not begin with Operation Storm. We must remember the aggression against the Republic of Croatia in 1991, the courage of Croatian defenders who stopped that aggression, and all the suffering endured by the Croatian people," he said.
He also called for remembrance of all military battles and operations, the suffering caused by the war, the discovery of 150 mass graves in Croatia, and the development of the Croatian Armed Forces into a military capable of carrying out what he described as a brilliant operation.
Photo Croatia's government website
