President Milanović Proposes Ceremonial Armed Forces Parade in Zagreb to Mark 30th Anniversary of Operation ‘Storm’ on Victory Day, 5 August

28. January 2025.
12:22

“This year, the Republic of Croatia will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the victorious Military and Police Operation ‘Storm’, which in August 1995 liberated the largest portion of previously occupied Croatian territory. As the President of the Republic and the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, I believe that we are obliged to mark the 30th anniversary of the greatest and most significant victory of the Croatian Army in the Homeland War in a unique, magnificent, and victorious manner: with a ceremonial parade of the Croatian Armed Forces on the 5th of August in Zagreb.

We owe this to all Croatian defenders who defended and liberated Croatia, and in whose honour we celebrate the anniversary of ‘Storm’ on the 5th of August every year as Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Defenders’ Day. There is no national holiday that can be more strongly, emotionally, or truly associated with the victory and glory of the Croatian Army than the 5th of August. I believe that every Croatian citizen would feel proud to see, on the 5th of August 2025, in the capital of Croatia, the full strength and equipment of the modern Croatian Army. It would also be an opportunity for members of the Croatian Armed Forces to demonstrate and showcase their readiness and ability to protect Croatia’s borders and ensure the safety of the Croatian people.

The anniversary of ‘Storm’ is a unique national holiday that is genuinely celebrated across our Homeland, as Croatian people from every part of Croatia participated in that great victory. We all know that without the victory of the Croatian Army, there would be no Croatia as we know it today. That is why Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Defenders’ Day is a day that unites Croatia. May the ceremonial military parade on the 5th of August serve as a symbolic pledge to preserve the memory of the glorious victory in the Homeland War and a tangible testament to the unity of the Croatian people in the present and future.

Given the significance of the military parade, all military, organizational, and financial aspects should certainly be carefully considered at a session of the Defense Council – the convening of which I proposed to the Prime Minister and which I believe will take place soon – in order to begin preparations on time and ensure all prerequisites for its organization on the 5th of August in Zagreb.”