Yesterday, July 31, 2025, in Zagreb, a solemn military parade was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the military-police operation “Storm,” Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, and Croatian Defenders’ Day. The parade took place along Vukovar Street, on the route from Marin Držić Avenue to Savska Street, starting at 5:00 PM, following President Zoran Milanović’s order to commence the march.
The parade featured more than 3,400 participants: members of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Directorate of Civil Protection, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, the Judicial Police, the Firefighting Association, war veterans, historical units, and allied forces from nine countries carrying their flags. The infantry units consisted of 24 echelons, including renowned battalions such as Tigers, Thunderbolts, Martens, Spiders, Falcons, Cougars, and Wolves. The column also included soldiers, policemen, volunteers, conscripts, cadets, Croatian war veterans, and victims of the Homeland War.
In addition to the lined-up soldiers, citizens could see motorized and mechanized units with over 500 combat and non-combat vehicles: Patria armored vehicles, PzH 2000 howitzers, M-84 tanks, as well as newly acquired Leopard 2A4 tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. The latest military equipment was specially presented, including Bayraktar drones, FPV drones, and new communication and command systems.
The spectacular aerial program consisted of a flyover by more than 41 aircraft of the Croatian Air Force (including Rafale jets, Pilatus PC-9M – Wings of Storm aerobatic team, Black Hawks, Kiowa Warrior helicopters, and Canadair water bombers), as well as six helicopters from the Ministry of the Interior. The parade ended with a flyover of all nine Rafale fighter jets, which greatly excited the gathered citizens.
A special attraction was the naval flyover by the Croatian Navy, featuring a spectacular display of various types of ships, which citizens could follow on large video screens. A rich cultural and artistic program accompanied the entire parade, and the event was marked by fireworks and emotional moments of silence honoring fallen defenders.
The event was not without incidents: during the motorized part of the parade, two individuals briefly interrupted the procession by entering the route but were quickly apprehended without consequences.
The parade was sent as a strong message of unity, pride, and gratitude to all defenders, as well as a testament to the technological advancement of the Croatian Army and dedication to building a modern defense force, further emphasized by words from the Minister of Veterans, Tomo Medved.
For a rich gallery of photos and video reports, recommended sources include Croatian media portals such as Jutarnji list, Index, tportal, the Ministry of Defence (MORH), and Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT).
Key highlights:
- Over 3,400 participants from Croatia and allied countries
- More than 500 military vehicles and 41 aircraft
- Presentation of the latest weaponry: drones, fighting vehicles, Leopard 2A4 tanks, Rafale jets
- Large crowds, pride, and an emotional program paying tribute to defenders
- The program ended with a spectacular aerial flyover and fireworks
This was the largest military parade in recent Croatian history, confirming the capacity and readiness of the Croatian defense forces.
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