Ustasha-Style Gathering or a Quiet Celebration? Knin Divides Croatia

This year's commemoration of the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm in Knin sparked heated reactions and divided the public. While some speak of an 'Ustasha-style gathering' and tolerance of extremism, veterans' associations counter that the celebration was peaceful and dignified, dismissing individual chants as insignificant incidents.

What Happened in Knin?

At the celebration of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day in Knin, Ustasha chants rang out, and the unofficial part of the program turned into an 'Ustasha-style gathering'. Alongside the salute 'Za dom spremni' (For home ready), there were chants of 'We Croats don't drink wine, only the blood of Chetniks from Knin'.

SDSS President Milorad Pupovac stated on Friday that messages heard at the commemoration represented a 'serious attack on constitutional values and democracy'. He called on judicial bodies and the State Attorney's Office (DORH) to react ex officio to hate speech and incitement to violence.

Medved: I Didn't See It, I Can't Comment

Minister of Veterans and Deputy Prime Minister Tomo Medved responded to criticism by saying he can only comment on the official part of the program-from the morning wake-up call to the mass and wreath-laying. What happened on the sidelines, he said, he neither saw nor heard, so he cannot comment on it.

In a commentary by Telegram.hr, such a stance by the authorities is sharply criticized: 'A government that "didn't see" thereby describes itself as complicit.' The author notes that 'it is so hard, even in principle, to say that it's not right to sing Ustasha songs and glorify Ustasha criminals in the middle of a celebration of probably Croatia's most beloved holiday.'

Veterans Stand by Medved: 'The Celebration Was Peaceful and Dignified'

A completely different picture is offered by the 'Veterans Together' community, the umbrella organization of veterans' associations of war units from Međimurje County. In a statement released on August 7, 2026, they said that 'the celebration in Knin was peaceful, dignified, and without any forms of violence, threats to security, or breaches of public order.'

They do not consider individual chants outside the official protocol relevant: 'Individual chants outside the official protocol cannot be used as an argument for accusations of "extremism," nor can they call into question the magnificent character of Operation Storm.'

Sharp Condemnation of Pupovac

The veterans' association particularly targeted Pupovac. 'The Veterans Together community therefore condemns the lecturing by Milorad Pupovac and those like him, who try to impose on veterans, the Croatian people, and institutions how Croatia may or may not commemorate Operation Storm,' the statement reads.

They also reject any connection between Operation Storm and the Independent State of Croatia (NDH): 'The NDH and Operation Storm belong to completely different historical contexts, time periods, and political circumstances. Operation Storm is the foundation of Croatian statehood, internationally recognized and carried out in accordance with international law.'

Unpunished War Crimes and 'Growing Gloom'

In the Telegram.hr commentary, it is recalled that war crimes committed after the military operation have largely gone unpunished-hundreds of civilians were killed, and tens of thousands of houses were burned. 'That is the dark side of victory, all the darker as years pass without punishment for the perpetrators,' it states.

Telegram.hr also warns of broader consequences of tolerating such an atmosphere: 'In Knin, "Jure and Boban" serve to instill fear (for now, just fear) in Serbs. Tomorrow, in your town, they will serve to instill fear in anyone who doesn't quite dress in black.'

While some call on the DORH and police to react urgently, and others defend the dignity of the celebration, the fact is that the competent institutions-the police and the State Attorney's Office-have so far not responded to the reported chants. Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the day when democratic Croatia was defended on August 5, 1995, once again remained a scene of deep divisions.