Serb victims of Croatia's 'Oluja' operation mourned in Biskupija

A memorial service was held in Biskupija, Croatia, for victims of the 1995 Croatian military action "Oluja" (Storm), which displaced over 220,000 Serbs from the former Krajina region. Residents described the day as one of sorrow for lost lives and scattered populations. Milan Đurđević, the mayor of Biskupija, shared his personal experience of leaving his home at age eight and the subsequent separation from his former life. He noted the difficulty in encouraging young people to return to Biskupija, which now has about 900 residents, but expressed optimism that emigration has ceased in the last decade. The community receives support from the municipality, the state, and European funds, with residents engaged in agriculture or working in the private and public sectors in Knin. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Knin for the official state commemoration of the "Oluja" anniversary, with Croatian state leaders expecting a dignified observance. The Documentation and Information Center Veritas in Belgrade criticized the lack of accountability for the exodus of Serbs, highlighting that many victims were civilians over 60 years old. Veritas pointed out that Croatian forces attacked UN-protected Serb zones on August 4, 1995, despite prior acceptance of a peace settlement by Krajina Serb representatives.

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this day is for them first and foremost a day of sorrow, because of the lost lives and people who were displaced all over the world.