Vukovar Defender Mural in Samobor Vandalized Again
The damaged mural of Nikica Burić, a legendary Samobor native, sparked strong reactions from citizens and calls for the swift apprehension of the perpetrator.
The damaged mural of Nikica Burić, a legendary Samobor native, sparked strong reactions from citizens and calls for the swift apprehension of the perpetrator.
The mural dedicated to Nikica Burić, a legendary defender of Vukovar known as Samoborac, has once again been targeted by vandals. News of the latest defacement of his likeness was published on Monday, August 10, 2026, and was sharply condemned by the Samobor city district of Giznik-Anindol, which called for the preservation of the memory of Croatian warriors.
In response to the incident, they issued a statement on their Facebook page, emphasizing that this act has nothing to do with freedom of expression. "Nikica Burić Samoborac is not history from a textbook. He is a man who made that history. While some today are only brave enough to spray paint on walls, he was where he needed to be, on the battlefield, defending Croatia," they said.
The statement highlights that the problem lies not only in ignorance but also in upbringing. "If a child doesn't know who Nikica Burić is, maybe the problem isn't just with the child. The problem also lies with the upbringing, education, and parents who evidently didn't consider it important to teach their own children the history of their own people and city," the statement reads.
The city district called for the strongest condemnation of this act and stressed the importance of preserving the image of the defender. "Samobor should preserve the memory of its defenders, not allow their likenesses to be destroyed with a simple spray can in the center of the City of Samobor. Nikica Burić deserves respect. His image deserves to be preserved. And this act deserves the clearest possible condemnation," they concluded.
Below the post, angry comments from citizens demanding that the vandal be found piled up. One of them believes the police should have no trouble identifying the culprit: "If they wanted to, they could find the perpetrator relatively easily. The person who bought the orange spray paint didn't just use it to deface this mural; they surely left their 'signature' in other places around town, their style of lettering. A little police talk with the youth at the playground and the perpetrator would be found."
Others confirmed that this is not an isolated incident. One citizen wrote that "it's not the first time; the old graffiti of Nikica has been defaced 2-3 times. Now a camera has been installed, so maybe something can be pulled from it. I offer free transportation for the person who did this." Some comments also included accusations against the political party Radnička fronta and "anational alternatives."
Some citizens expressed concern that such incidents are spreading beyond the capital. "It's sad that the situation from Zagreb is slowly transferring to the towns of Zagreb County," one comment read.
