Croatia Victory Day programme to begin with dawn march through Knin
- by croatiaweek
- in News
Knin (Photo: The office of the President of Croatia/archive)
ZAGREB, 24 July 2026 (Hina) – The central commemoration of Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Defenders’ Day and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm will begin with a traditional dawn march through the streets of Knin on 5 August.
A Mass will then be celebrated at 7.30am at the Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Baptismal Covenant.
A ceremony honouring Croatian defenders who were killed, missing or have since died will begin at 9am at the Monument to the Croatian Victory “Storm 95” on Dr Ante Starčević Square.
Wreaths will be laid by families of Croatian defenders killed, missing or deceased during Operation Storm, wartime commanders, representatives of Croatian War of Independence associations, senior Croatian state officials, representatives of the Croatian National Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and representatives of counties and cities.
The central ceremony will begin at 9.40am at the NK Dinara stadium. Part of the programme taking place at the Knin Fortress will be broadcast on a large screen at the stadium and on the town’s central square.
The traditional raising of the Croatian flag at the fortress will feature representatives of Croatian defenders and victims of the Homeland War.
The raising of the flag, accompanied by the Croatian national anthem, will be followed by the ringing of church bells and ceremonial gun salutes.
The stadium programme will include speeches, a reading of the history of Operation Storm and the names of those killed or missing during the operation. The names will be read by sons of Croatian defenders who were killed.
At the same time, 245 cadets of the Croatian Armed Forces and students of the Police Academy of the Ministry of the Interior will appear at the fortress, symbolically representing the 245 Croatian defenders killed or missing during Operation Storm.
The central ceremony will conclude with a demonstration of the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and police, followed by an air display, the Ministry of Croatian Veterans said.
Programme continues throughout the day
At noon, Knin will welcome marathon runners, cyclists and motorcyclists on Dr Ante Starčević Square.
A display of weapons and equipment will be open to the public along Dr Franje Tuđmana Street from 8am to 4pm. A traditional serving of military bean stew is scheduled from 11.30am to 2pm.
The programme in Knin will conclude with an evening concert organised by the City of Knin.
The central ceremony will also be broadcast live by Croatian Radiotelevision.
Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Defenders’ Day and the anniversary of Operation Storm will be marked with commemorative events throughout Croatia.
The Ministry of Croatian Veterans has called on citizens to display Croatian flags on 5 August and to mark the anniversary with pride and dignity in Knin and across the country.
The Croatian Government earlier established an organising committee for the central commemoration in Knin. Darko Nekić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, has been appointed coordinator.
