Veljko Milanković

Veljko Milanković (Serbian: Вељко Миланковић; 5 January 1955 – 14 February 1993) was a Bosnian Serb war commander during the Yugoslav Wars with the rank of second lieutenant.[1]

Veljko Milanković
Nickname(s)Komandant Veljko,
Hajduk Veljko,
The Wolf from Vučjak
Born(1955-01-05)5 January 1955
Prnjavor, SFR Yugoslavia
Died14 February 1993(1993-02-14) (aged 38)
Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Allegiance Republika Srpska
 Republic of Serbian Krajina
Service/branchArmy of Republika Srpska
Years of service1991–93
RankSecond lieutenant,
Commander
UnitWolves of Vučjak
Battles/warsBosnian War

Croatian War

AwardsMedal of Miloš Obilić

In 2007, it was announced that Milanković would have a street named after him in Novi Sad.[2] Non-governmental groups protested the decision.[3][4]

Before the war

Born to a farming family in Prnjavor, SFR Yugoslavia (modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina), he helped his father in the fields with Bosniak Muslims working with him. Later in 1980, he was allegedly reported multiple times for illegally cutting down and stealing wood and eventually being arrested by the police for these charges but was later released.

During the war

Milanković was drafted into the Army of Republika Srpska before his commanding days. He fought originally for the independence of Republika Srpska and joined the 1st Krajina Corps. He eventually became a second lieutenant and was permitted to create a paramilitary group named the Wolves of Vučjak. He led them until his demise in 1993. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia, he was allegedly accused of abuse of civilians and minorities.

Operation Maslenica

During Operation Maslenica, Milanković led an assault with his unit the Wolves of Vučjak against Croatian positions in western Dalmatia. The goal of Milanković and his unit were to push out Croatians and protect Serbs in the region. In 1992, he was injured in the foot and had to wear a cast yet he did not leave the battlefield due to his leading position in the Wolves of Vučjak.[5] He was later in the "Corridor of Life" which helped widen a strip of Serbian claimed land.

Death

Milanković was badly wounded on 4 February 1993 in Donji Kašić, Croatia. He later died of his wounds on the 14th of February, 1993 at the age of 38 while staying at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

See more

References
  1. "030304Ed".
  2. "Streets named after Vukovar commanders". B92. 4 April 2007.
  3. Ministarstvo protiv "Vukova s Vučjaka"
  4. "OSCE criticises naming of Novi Sad streets after wartime commanders". Southeast European Times. 6 April 2007.
  5. Vedran (2022-06-26). ""UPRKOS GIPSU NA NOZI, ODBIJAO JE DA ODE IZ BORBE": Junaški podvizi Veljka Milankovića presudni u probijanju "Koridora života"". Prnjavorinfo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-10.


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