ŠKORIĆ: THE SECOND ARMORED BRIGADE’S GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO SRPSKA CREATION

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 14 /SRNA/ - Wartime commander of the Second Armored Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army /RSA/, Miko Škorić, congratulated his comrades on the 33rd anniversary of the founding of this military unit, which was one of the main strike forces of the First Krajina Corps during the Defensive–Patriotic War that made a significant contribution to the defense and creation of Republika Srpska.

Škorić, a retired RSA colonel, emphasized that the most important operations in which the Second Armored Brigade participated were within the Corridor 92Operation, and it also made major contributions in defending and stabilizing the front in Doboj, as well as in the Derventa and Vozuća battlefields. It played a key role in the liberation of Brod in 1992. He announced that the 33rd anniversary will be marked tomorrow, with a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. in the renovated Memorial Room of the Second Armored Brigade located in the university campus in Banja Luka, honoring the fallen, missing, and deceased members of this military unit and the Rajko Balać Military School Centre. At 12:30 p.m., wreaths and flowers will be laid at the monument to the fallen RSA soldiers at the Sveti Pantelija Cemetery in Banja Luka. After that, flowers will also be placed on the graves of members of the brigade, along with a wreath at the grave of the brigade’s first commander - General Slavko Lisica. Škorić recalled that the brigade was founded on June 10, 1992, at Manjača near Banja Luka, and remained active on the battlefield until November 1995. He highlighted that the brigade was known for its high morale, unity, and camaraderie. More than 3,000 soldiers were part of it; 86 of whom were killed, and a larger number were wounded, most of whom returned to active duty after recovery. According to him, this military unit always conducted itself professionally and adhered to honorable military conduct and fair warfare, evidenced by the fact that none of its members were prosecuted for violations of the laws or conventions of war. "We are proud of the people who wore our uniform," said Škorić, who previously held leadership roles in the Republika Srpska War Veterans Organisation. The Second Armored Brigade was formed from the personnel and combat equipment of the JNA /Yugoslav People’s Army/ “Petar Drapšin” Armored and Mechanized Units Training Centre in Banja Luka. For its merits in the Defensive–Patriotic War, the brigade was awarded the Petar Mrkonjić Medal.