The Operation “Storm“  changed the ratio of forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was a turning point in Croatia as well and will be remembered as the greatest  victory in the history of Croatia. The Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day, the Croatian Defenders Day and the 22nd anniversary of the “Operation Storm“  were marked formally in Knin on 5 August , where 22 years ago the Croatian flag was flown in the Knin Fortress signalling  the victorious advancement of the Croatian Army in  the most extensive liberating operation thereto.
This year too  Knin was visited by the top state and military officials  the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Minister of the Interior  Davor Božinović, the Minister of the Croatian Homeland War Veterans  Tomo Medved, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov,  members of the Croatian Parliament, defence attachés  accredited to the Republic of Croatia, members of the Croatian Armed Forces, the participants of the Operation and Croatian defenders.
The Croatian President as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the Monument of the Croatian Victory in the main square of Knin in tribute to all fallen Croatian defenders; followed by the prayer recited by the Military Bishop of Croatia, Mons. Jure Bogdan.
This year’s ceremony was held in the Knin Fortress, starting with the roll of honour of  240 members of the Croatian Army killed or missing in the Operation “Storm“, followed by the chimes commemorating the entry of the Croatian Army in Knin  during the Operation and the hoisting of the Croatian flag on the top of the Fortress ,  same ass well as 22 years ago. Furthermore, 22 honorary  volleys  were fired and as many white doves released symbollising freedom and peace . mbol of freedom and peace. The ceremony was continued with an aerial parade of eight columns with over 20 aircraft, among which the recently introduced Kiowa Warrior helicopters.