Croatian veteran Robert Puja defends legacy of Operation Storm

Robert Puja, president of the Association of the 7th Guard Brigade “Puma”, addressed the central ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm. He said the Croatian defenders are proud of their role in creating an independent Croatia and emphasized that the aggressor in the Homeland War is well known, rejecting attempts to portray responsibility as shared.

Puja described the war as a just, defensive and liberating struggle and called on younger generations to learn the true history. He urged continued efforts to resolve the fate of missing persons from the conflict and highlighted Croatia’s current stability as a member of the EU and NATO. He also stressed that veterans should not be associated with any past regime.

The remarks were made amid ongoing public debate over the interpretation of the war and the commemoration of its outcomes.