Operation Storm: Historical reflections and regional tensions

Historical reflections and political tensions surround the anniversary of Operation Storm. Recent statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other regional leaders have drawn criticism for characterizing the military operation as a crime, a claim disputed by Croatian officials and historians.

Historical accounts detail the surrender of the 21st Kordun Corps on August 8, 1995. Colonel Čedo Bulat surrendered his forces to Croatian General Petar Stipetić, a former colleague and superior in the Yugoslav People's Army. The surrender is marked by a famous photograph of Bulat signing the capitulation on the hood of a vehicle, an event described by some as a definitive end to the operation.

Historian Ante Nazor has also provided context regarding the roots of the conflict, describing the war as a result of long-standing expansionist political projects. He argues that the unrest in the 1990s followed documented ideological frameworks rather than being a mere reaction to the political shifts in Croatia.