While for Anti-Fascist Struggle Day the City of Zagreb organized a concert in the city center, for the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm a similar program under the patronage of the city administration was not held.
On August 5, 2026, numerous Croatian cities marked three decades and one year since the military-police operation Storm with a series of public events, concerts, and gatherings. In Zagreb, however, the city government led by Tomislav Tomašević did not organize a supporting concert in the city center. The main state commemoration was held in Knin, a city that became a symbol of Croatia's victory after the flag was raised at the local fortress on August 5, 1995.
The concert at Jarun for Storm was organized by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, while the City of Zagreb participated in the commemoration by laying wreaths and paying tribute to fallen defenders. Mayor Tomašević took part in the parade, and a city delegation laid wreaths at Mirogoj at the memorials of the Voice of the Croatian Victim, the Wall of Pain, the central cross in the Alley of Croatian Defenders, and at the "Kenotaph" monument at the Crematorium.
Unlike the capital, many other cities organized rich programs. Split hosted a ceremonial parade of defenders with war flags, and a concert called "To the Homeland with Love" featuring Prljavo kazalište was held on the Riva. Šibenik organized a concert by Marko Perković Thompson, while Rijeka prepared a three-day program that included raising the flag on the Kosi toranj, a motorcycle ride with Croatian, war, and veteran flags, and lighting 222 torches on the Krk Bridge in memory of fallen defenders from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
Dubrovnik held a two-day program with an exhibition titled "VRO Storm in Banovina 1995" and a ceremonial concert by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra. Zadar had a concert called "Arbanasi from the Heart with Song," and musical programs were also held in Gospić, Makarska, and on Hvar.
The difference in approach becomes evident when looking at the commemoration of Anti-Fascist Struggle Day on June 22, 2026. On that occasion, the City of Zagreb organized a concert by the band Let 3 in the very center, at European Square. According to Narod.hr, this is one of the bands particularly favored by the mayor, which also performed at the New Year's Eve celebration for 2025. The city administration also organized a concert program for June 22 the previous year, under the patronage of Mayor Tomašević.
While for Anti-Fascist Struggle Day the city government provided space, funding, and logistics for a concert in the center of Zagreb, for Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day such a decision was not made. "Two Faces of Tomislav Tomašević: Against the Memory of the Homeland War, Celebrates Partisans," reads the headline of an article on Narod.hr.
Šarić: Možemo supposedly celebrates 'Storm' in silence and with dignity. Yeah, right!
Operation Storm is not a party anniversary nor does it belong to one political option; it is a military action that liberated the largest part of occupied territory and was crucial for the end of the Homeland War. As the capital city, Zagreb bears a special responsibility to lead in commemorating events of the greatest national significance, which in practice does not happen for such dates.
