The three-day observance of Victory Day and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm began with wreath-laying at Drenova Cemetery in Rijeka, with commemorative programs across Croatia.
The annual observance of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm began on Monday, August 3, 2026, with the lighting of candles and laying of wreaths in the Alley of Fallen Croatian Defenders at the Central City Cemetery Drenova in Rijeka.
Representatives of the City of Rijeka, led by Mayor Iva Rinčić and her deputy Vedran Vivod, delegations from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, numerous veterans' associations, state institutions, the Croatian Army and Police, as well as family members of the fallen, paid their respects. Police chaplain Kristijan Gerbic led the prayer at the central cross and in the alley.
Mayor of Rijeka Iva Rinčić emphasized the importance of collectively remembering the sacrifice made by veterans and their families. "We have gathered to pay tribute and thank all Croatian veterans and to once again show respect to their families, given the sacrifice they made for our city, our region, and our homeland. These days remind us that the freedom we live today must not be taken for granted; instead, each year we should remember those who made it possible. Once again, thank them!" said Rinčić.
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Ivica Lukanović recalled the heavy toll this region has borne. "From our region, 222 veterans were killed, which is an extremely high price, especially for the families who lost their loved ones. That is why it is important that we gather at this time of year and share the grief with those families, because that grief does not disappear," said Lukanović. He added that the unity and synergy from the war years prove that even small nations, when united, can achieve great goals.
The wreath-laying at Drenova is just the beginning of Rijeka's multi-day program. On the same day, an exhibition dedicated to Operation Storm and the wartime path of Croatian Army units from the Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar area was set up on the Korzo, open until August 11. The central event, titled "Together in War, Together in Peace," will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and includes a parade of veterans with war flags, the raising of the Croatian flag at the Leaning Tower, and a gathering at the Croatian Veterans Bridge from the Homeland War.
On the same day, the fan association Plavo-bijeli otok will light 222 torches on the Krk Bridge, exactly matching the number of fallen veterans from this county. The culmination of Rijeka's observance is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026, on Victory Day, when members of Armada will also light 222 torches at Molo longo, and the band Opća opasnost will perform a concert at Gat Karoline Riječke.
In Dubrovnik, the program began on August 3 with the opening of the exhibition "Operation Storm in Banovina 1995" by author Varina Jurica Turk at the Imperial Fortress on Srđ, organized by the Dubrovnik Homeland War Museum. The central event is scheduled for August 5 in front of St. Blaise's Church on Stradun, where a virtual exhibition "Road to Freedom 1991-1995" will be shown, followed by a ceremonial concert of patriotic songs by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Ivan Hut. The program is held in cooperation with the Marin Držić Theatre and the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Earlier, on August 2, 2026, the 5th edition of the Croatian Veterans' Sports Games took place in Orahovica, bringing together eight associations. Stjepan Varaždinac, president of the HVIDRA Orahovica Association, stressed that Operation Storm is rightly considered a symbol of the Homeland War. "It is undoubtedly the most famous operation of the Croatian Army, the battle of all battles that we are all proud of. In this modest way, through veterans' games and socializing, we pay tribute to this historic action," said Varaždinac. Competitions were held in hanging bowling, darts, and belote.
Perica Prpić, president of the Special Police Association from the Homeland War "Ajkula," reminded of the role of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar region in the creation of the state. "The Homeland War is the foundation of the modern Croatian state, and we know what happened in the 1990s, so the Croatian people from our region made a great contribution to the creation of the modern Croatian state," said Prpić.
Irena Kačić, president of the Association of Widows of Croatian Veterans from the Homeland War, pointed out that the associations strive to visit all grave sites across the county because many veterans no longer have their families. "We thank the veterans for this magnificent operation that brought the war to an end and finally gave us a free Croatia," said Kačić.
