33RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE EIGHTH UNIT OF THE RS MINISTRY OF INTERIOR’S SPECIAL POLICE BRIGADE MARKED

EAST SARAJEVO, JUNE 14 /SRNA/ - The 33rd anniversary of the founding of the Eighth Unit of the Special Police Brigade of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior /MoI/ was commemorated today in East Sarajevo. This unit comprised 300 of the bravest young men, 17 of whom lost their lives and more than 190 were wounded.

A memorial service was held at the memorial Church of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr in Veljine, and flowers and wreaths were laid at the memorial outside the East New Sarajevo Police Station.

Deputy Commander and Head of the Veterans Association of the Eighth Unit of the Special Police Brigade Ilidža, Duško Tešić, told the press the unit's wartime path was unique, spanning battlefields in Otes, Ilidža, Treskavica, Sokolje, Mijatovića Strana, Ozren, Krajina, and Srednje.

He noted that the unit’s former members are now scattered across Republika Srpska and the world.

“After the Dayton, our members resettled in 16 municipalities and cities across Republika Srpska and in 17 countries worldwide. Since the war, 23 members of this unit have died and are buried in different cemeteries. Our people are everywhere - from New Zealand to the Dominican Republic,” Tešić said.

Nevenka Mitrović, whose son Vladimir was a member of the Eighth Unit, emphasized how much it means to her when her son’s comrades remember her and him.

Vladimir was 21 when he came from Bela Crkva and was wounded at age 22, hit by a sniper on June 21, which left him blind. He died 15 years later from his injuries.

“They haven’t forgotten me or my Vladimir. That means a lot to me,” Mitrović added.

Milica Petrović said her husband Ilija was killed in November 1992 in Rajlovac, while her son Ognjen fought throughout the Defensive-Patriotic War as a member of the Eighth Unit.

After the war in BiH, he was killed in Kosovo and Metohija as a member of the Serbia’s Ministry of Interior’s Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.

Petrović, who lived in Sarajevo in 1992 and now resides in Bijeljina, said it means a great deal to the families of the fallen when they are invited to attend commemorations like today’s.

The special unit at the Ilidža Police Station was formed in early April 1992. It became part of the Special Police Brigade of the Republika Srpska MoI, under the Sarajevo-Romanija and Birč units.

With new systematization, the Ilidža unit became part of the First Unit of the Special Police Brigade until January 14, 1995, when, by decision of the minister, it became independent as the Eighth Unit of the Special Police Brigade of the Republika Srpska MoI.