The president of the 4th Guards Brigade Veterans Association said at the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm in Knin that the state has made significant progress, but also reminded of the harsh conditions they fought in.
At the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the Military-Police Operation Storm in Knin, among the many veterans was Boris Lapenda Lav, president of the 4th Guards Brigade Veterans Association. In an interview with Večernji list, he recalled the war days, commented on today's Croatia, and expressed his belief that the Homeland War, with today's military equipment, would have lasted significantly shorter.
"Had we had today's technology back then, I believe the war would not have lasted even two months. We would have defeated them in two months with the technology the Croatian soldier has today," said Lapenda Lav. He recalled the humble beginnings and the shortage of weapons. "I remember when we got a single mortar in the first days. No one was happier than us. We had a mortar and six shells, and we thought we were something special," he added.
Lapenda Lav emphasized that the victorious Operation Storm cannot be viewed in isolation from the suffering that preceded it. "When we remember Operation Storm and all the events before it, we must not forget that Operation Storm was the crown. Five years before Operation Storm, we had hell, an embargo, a ban on arms imports, refugees, overcrowded hospitals, and Vukovar, Škabrnja, and other cities suffered," he said.
He described the very entry into Knin as an existential moment for the Croatian people. "It was to be or not to be. And thank God, the dream was to be, and God was on our side. And here we are, finally having a free city of Knin, our royal city of Knin. We are proud of everything we have done, we are not ashamed of anything, and God forbid we need to do it again, you can always count on us," he said.
He also commented on the noticeable decline in the number of visitors to the central celebration in Knin in recent years. He believes this is not a sign of forgetting, but rather that the decentralization of commemorations is a positive thing. "In recent years, commemorations have started being held in all places, which I think is good. Knin is Knin, it's the center, but Operation Storm also took place in Slavonia, in Lika, and it's natural that people want to do something in their own place to mark that great, great day," he said.
He also cited the summer heat and the advancing age of veterans as additional reasons. "It's very hot, we have to understand. We are already people of a certain age, it's not convenient for us, nor probably for you, to sit for two hours in the heat at the stadium. There are fewer and fewer of us, but I'm glad to see young people coming, that people bring the youth," he pointed out. He believes that Knin, especially during the evening concert, will be full again, and that it is nice for a city where many young families live.
When asked if today's Croatia is what they envisioned, Lapenda Lav was clear: "We are not politicians, we are warriors. As far as we are concerned, we are more than satisfied. We have a state, which was the thousand-year dream of the Croatian people."
He highlighted the enormous progress of the state and the military over the past 30 years. "Today, the military has come a long way, Croatia has come a long way, we must be honest. We are a member of NATO, the European Union, and Schengen, we have the euro. People work, salaries are better. There are people who still live hard today, but it is much better than 30 years ago," concluded the president of the 4th Guards Brigade Veterans Association.
