Candles were lit in the yard outside Vukovar's hospital on Tuesday evening in memory of all victims who died during the siege and the fall of this eastern Croatian city in the hand of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serb paramilitaries in the autumn 1991.

This commemorative event was held in compliance with the anti-Covid restrictive measures.

In attendance were Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, War Veterans’ Minister Tomo Medved, Defence Minister Mario Banozic, and local authorities.

After the ceremony, Plenkovic said that tribute was paid to all who had given their lives for the free Croatia.

“I would like to emphasise that Croatia won the Homeland War and we are free and live in a democracy.”

He thanked the wartime and the current head of the hospital, Vesna Bosanac, the last commander of Vukovar, Branko Borkovic, and other defenders as well as all residents of the city.

Bosanac and Brokovic attended the commemorative ceremony in the hospital’s yard.

On Wednesday, commemorative events start at 10 am when the beginning of the traditional Remembrance Procession is scheduled.

Participants in the procession will walk through Vukovar streets and hold wreath-laying ceremonies at the memorial cemetery where the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic will say a requiem mass.