Victory Day and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm celebrated across Croatia

31 years ago, Operation Storm began. Croatian forces launched an attack at 5 a.m. simultaneously from 30 directions on a frontline about 600 kilometers long, and in just 84 hours, almost a fifth of the country was liberated. Despite the strong resistance of the aggressors, Croatian forces achieved great successes on the first day. On the occasion of the Victory Day celebration, parades, wreath-laying and candle-lighting ceremonies were held to honor veterans. 

A ceremonial parade titled "Victory 2026" was held in Rijeka, in which war veterans, representatives of institutions and members of the Armada participated.

“I remember, among other things, all those who died during the war, who were together with us,” said one veteran.

In memory of all the fallen Croatian veterans and civilian victims of the Homeland War, in Osijek, delegations of the county, city and veterans' associations laid wreaths near the chapel of the Queen of Peace. 

“Storm was first and foremost a military victory, but not only a military victory, but also a victory for the right of the Croatian people to freedom, a people who wanted to live in peace and in their own country,” said Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Nataša Tramišak. 

Greetings on the occasion of tomorrow's holiday were sent by Split-Dalmatia Prefect Blaženko Boban who said: “So many defenders gave their lives, participated in the Homeland War, dreamed of that dream that they thought of nothing but the creation of an independent Croatia.”

And a delegation of the City of Zagreb, led by the mayor, Tomislav Tomašević, paid tribute to victims with wreaths at the Mirogoj cemetery.

“And of course tomorrow, just like every year until now, as the mayor, I will participate in the central celebration of Victory Day and Homeland Thanksgiving Day in Knin,” said Tomašević.

On the Krk Bridge, tonight at 9 pm, the memorial manifestation titled "Storm in Kvarner" will be held again. For the tenth year in a row, 222 torches will be lit on the bridge in memory of the 222 dead Croatian defenders from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. 

The bridge will be closed for a short time due to the event, and the organizers urge all visitors to be careful and not to use pyrotechnics, especially signal rockets due to possible fires.

Source: HRT