Medved Strongly Condemns Vandalism of Memorial
A memorial dedicated to 28 children killed in the Homeland War has been defaced with graffiti, and the Veterans Minister is calling for a swift investigation and punishment of those responsible.
A memorial dedicated to 28 children killed in the Homeland War has been defaced with graffiti, and the Veterans Minister is calling for a swift investigation and punishment of those responsible.
On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Croatian Veterans Minister Tomo Medved strongly condemned the act of vandalism against the "Interrupted Childhood" memorial in Slavonski Brod. The memorial, erected in honor of 28 children who lost their lives during the Homeland War, was found defaced with inappropriate graffiti the previous day.
The stone part of the memorial, installed in 2016, was desecrated on Monday, August 3. Minister Medved, who personally attended the unveiling of the memorial, stated that this is an unacceptable act of vandalism targeting a memorial dedicated to the youngest civilian victims of the Homeland War.
"I expect the investigative authorities to find those responsible very quickly and that they will be punished in accordance with the law. I also expect the damage to the memorial to be repaired as soon as possible," Medved said in Hrvatska Dubica, where he was attending the municipality's day and paying tribute to fallen and missing Croatian defenders.
The Minister called for respect for all victims of the Homeland War, with special emphasis on the children who were innocently killed during the Greater Serbian aggression against Croatia. He appealed to the conscience of potential perpetrators of similar acts to refrain from desecrating such places of remembrance.
"I call on all those who intend to commit such acts to remember the lost and interrupted childhood and not to desecrate in any way the memorials erected in honor and memory of the murdered children," Medved urged.
The police are currently conducting a criminal investigation to determine all the circumstances of this incident and find the perpetrator. The Ministry of Croatian Veterans expects a swift and effective response from the competent authorities.
