Croatia marks 31st anniversary of Operation Storm with national Victory Day commemorations

(Photo credit: Roberta F./Creative Commons 3.0 license) Creative Commons 3.0 license)

KNIN, 5 August 2026 – Croatia is today marking the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, one of the defining events of the Homeland War, with commemorations taking place across the country and the main ceremony held in Knin.

The national holiday, officially observed as Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, honours the military and police operation launched on 4 August 1995, which led to the restoration of Croatian control over large areas of occupied territory.

The operation lasted just 84 hours and resulted in the liberation of almost 10,500 square kilometres of land, representing nearly one-fifth of Croatia’s territory. Military operations were carried out along a front stretching more than 630 kilometres, from the area near Bosansko Grahovo to Jasenovac.

A defining moment came on 5 August 1995, when members of the Croatian Army’s 4th and 7th Guard Brigades entered Knin, then the centre of the Serb-held territory. At midday, a 20-metre Croatian flag was raised above Knin Fortress, becoming one of the most enduring images of the operation.

Around 200,000 members of the Croatian armed forces and police participated in Operation Storm, making it the largest military action of the Homeland War. According to the Homeland War Memorial and Documentation Centre, 196 Croatian soldiers and police officers lost their lives, more than 1,100 were wounded, and 15 remain missing.

Operation Storm brought an end to the armed conflict in most of Croatia, restored state authority over occupied areas and created the conditions for the peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem in January 1998. The operation also contributed to lifting the siege of the north-western Bosnian city of Bihać and enabled many refugees and displaced people to return to their homes.

Today’s commemorations are centred on Knin, where state officials, veterans and citizens are gathering to mark the anniversary and pay tribute to those who served during the Homeland War.