34TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SARAJEVO MECHANIZED BRIGADE

ISTOČNO NOVO SARAJEVO, MAY 21 /SRNA/ - The Veterans' Organization of Istočno Novo Sarajevo marked the 34th anniversary of the formation of the First Sarajevo Mechanized Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army and the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps Command.

President of the Veterans' Organization of Istočno Novo Sarajevo Dragiša Tuševljak thanked the families of fallen soldiers for the sacrifice they made for the freedom of the Serb people and for Republika Srpska, as well as Russian volunteers.

"The Veterans' Organization will continue to care for the descendants of Serb fighters, as well as convicted and accused Serbs facing alleged war crimes charges. At the same time, it is the obligation of all of us to preserve unity and harmony in Republika Srpska", Tuševljak said.

He also pointed out that amendments to the Law on Veterans' Rights would further improve the status of Serbian veterans in Republika Srpska.

President of the Assembly of the Veterans' Organization of Istočno Novo Sarajevo Borislav Radonja reminded of the wartime path of the First Sarajevo Mechanized Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army.

Around 5,000 soldiers served in the First Sarajevo Mechanized Brigade, and every second fighter was wounded one or more times.

For its contribution during the Homeland Defense War, the brigade was awarded the Order of Nemanjić by decree of the President of Republika Srpska in 2022.

A liturgy was served at the Church of St. George in Vraca, followed by a memorial service for fallen soldiers and the laying of wreaths and flowers at the Central Cross of the Vraca military cemetery, as well as at the grave of military priest Vojislav Čarkić.

Wreaths were laid by delegations of veterans' organizations, Istočno Novo Sarajevo, the city of Istočno Sarajevo, Istočna Ilidža, Trnovo, Rudo, the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment, the Third Sarajevo Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, the Republika Srpska Organization of Officers and Veterans of the Military Police.

The First Sarajevo Mechanized Brigade was formed on May 20, 1992, from the 40th Mechanized Brigade, which had been relocated from Zagreb to the Lukavica area and the 49th Motorized Brigade.

The brigade operated on three fronts: the inner Sarajevo front stretching from Ilinjača, Kotorac, Kula, Dobrinja One and Four, the Old Settlers' Neighborhood, the "Slaviša Vajner Čiča" barracks, Mojmilo Hill, Ozrenska Street, Šanac, the Željezničar stadium, Hrasno, along the Miljacka River to Vrbanja Bridge, Grbavica One and Two, Upper and Lower Kovačići, the Jewish Cemetery, the "Bosut" barracks, Debelo Brdo, Zlatište and part of Trebević, extending deeper toward Tvrdimići, Orčeve Vode and Kijevo.

The second front was the Trnovo battlefield - Treskavica, Igman and Rogoj - while the third stretched from Srednje and the Nišići Plateau to Olovo. Units of this brigade also participated in operations on the Goražde and Bihać battlefields.

The First Sarajevo Mechanized Brigade also took part in the successfully executed "Lukavac 93" operation, which involved linking the Sarajevo-Romanija region with Herzegovina and liberating Trnovo.

By decision of the Main Staff of the Republika Srpska Army on May 22, 1992, the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps was formed, with an area of responsibility covering the city municipalities, Han Pijesak and Rogatica. Its command headquarters was located at the "Slobodan Princip Seljo" barracks in Lukavica, where it remained until the end of the war.

Around 15,000 soldiers passed through the Corps, and approximately 4,000 lost their lives in combat operations for the freedom of Republika Srpska.