On the 31st anniversary of the Military-Police Operation Storm, the Minister of the Interior and the Director General of Police particularly highlighted the role of the Croatian police, who stood in defense of the country from the very first days of the Greater Serbian aggression.
On this day, August 5, 2026, Croatia celebrates Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of the Military-Police Operation Storm, a pivotal moment that turned the tide of the Homeland War. On this occasion, Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović and Director General of Police Nikola Milina issued a joint congratulatory message, emphasizing the indelible mark left by Croatian veterans and police officers in the creation of a free state.
Thirty-one years ago, on August 5, 1995, at 5 a.m., Croatian forces launched an offensive that would, in just 84 hours, liberate nearly a fifth of the then-occupied national territory. Nearly 200,000 soldiers and police officers took part in the operation, and 243 veterans paid for freedom with their lives, while 1,430 were wounded.
The very next day, August 6, 1995, Knin, the center of the Greater Serbian rebellion, was liberated. At exactly noon, the Croatian flag flew from the Knin fortress, and the President of the Republic of Croatia, Franjo Tuđman, then declared: "This flag here signifies the completion of the establishment of a free and independent Croatian state." Operation Storm remains the most renowned and largest operation of the Croatian Army, one of the fundamental symbols of the Homeland War.
Although it did not liberate the entire occupied territory, Storm is considered the end of the war in Croatia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it played a crucial role by lifting the long-standing siege of the Bihać pocket, thereby altering the strategic balance of power across the entire war-torn area. The most significant outcome was the defeat of the Greater Serbia concept on Croatian soil and the creation of conditions for the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In their congratulatory message, Božinović and Milina specifically highlighted the contribution of police forces. "We are truly proud of the Croatian police, who from the very first days of the Greater Serbian aggression stood in defense of the Croatian people and state, thereby writing a police history that is unique in the world," they stated. They emphasized that Croatian police officers "were among the first to respond to the challenges of war" and left "an indelible mark in the creation and defense of our Homeland."
They added that "the feats of the special police in the Military-Police Operation Storm are still studied at military academies worldwide." In the message, they also recalled the words of Franjo Tuđman spoken in Knin on August 26, 1995, that freedom was paid for with blood and that Croatia "will never again allow anyone to threaten its freedom, democracy, and Croatian land."
The Minister and the Director General of Police emphasized that Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the anniversary of Operation Storm are "a lasting symbol of Croatian unity, determination, and victory in defending the freedom, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia."
"With special respect, we remember all fallen, missing, and deceased Croatian veterans, and we extend our deep gratitude to their families who bore the greatest sacrifice," they stated, adding that "their sacrifice obliges us to pass on the truth about the Homeland War to future generations with dignity."
Finally, they stressed that the values defended then still form the foundation of police work today. "Today we affirm that freedom is not merely a legacy but a great responsibility that police officers safeguard every day," Božinović and Milina concluded, stating that the memory of Croatian victors should serve as "lasting inspiration," and their sacrifice as "an eternal obligation to protect the freedom, peace, and security of the Republic of Croatia."
