President Milanović Pays Tribute to Fallen Croatian Defenders at 29th Anniversary of Military and Police Operation “Flash”
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović attended a commemoration in the town of Okučani held in observance of the 29th anniversary of the Military and Police Operation “Flash”. Alongside his delegation, the President paid tribute to the Croatian defenders who lost their lives in the operation by laying a wreath and lighting a candle at the “Kristalna kocka vedrine” memorial [Crystal Cube of Serenity] in Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square.
Accompanying the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces at the wreath-laying were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense Ivica Olujić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Aide-de-camp to the President of the Republic Colonel Vlado Čulina, Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Krešo Tuškan, Assistant Head of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for Healthcare Major General Boris Boris Zdilar, Chief of the Operations Directorate in the General Staff Major General Denis Tretinjak, Commander of the Croatian Air Force Major General Michael Križanec, Deputy Commander of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Croatian Defence Academy Major General Blaž Beretin, Head of the J6 General Staff Brigadier General Ante Tolić, Chief of the Intelligence Directorate Brigadier General Mijo Validžić, Commander of the Operations Command Centre Brigadier General Željko Ljubas, Deputy Commander of Support Command Brigadier General Ivan Raos, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Army Brigadier General Valentin Skroza, Commander of the Guards Motorized Brigade Mirko Stošić, Deputy Commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanized Brigade Colonel Davor Josip Babić, Commander of the Special Forces Command Colonel Ivan Miloš, Deputy Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Croatian Army Colonel Dražen Batrnek, Commander of the Military Police Regiment Colonel Tomislav Kasumović, Commander of the Honorary and Protection Battalion of the Croatian Armed Forces Colonel Tihomir Zebec, and the Commander of the Intelligence Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Željko Perić.
Operation “Flash” was initiated on 1 May 1995 at 5:21 along an 80-kilometer-wide frontline extending in three directions: east, north, and west. Croatian forces launched major offensives that penetrated the occupied area of Western Slavonia, ultimately breaking the resistance of enemy forces and liberating Jasenovac, Okučani, and Stara Gradiška.
In a remarkably swift operation lasting less than 32 hours, from May 1st to May 2nd, Croatian forces reclaimed approximately 500 square kilometres of previously occupied territory in Western Slavonia. They also regained control of crucial infrastructures like the Zagreb-Lipovac highway and the railway line to Eastern Slavonia. Operation “Flash” involved the participation of approximately 7,200 Croatian soldiers and police officers. Tragically, fifty-one Croatian defenders lost their lives in action or succumbed to injuries afterward, while 162 others were wounded.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan