BANJA LUKA IS MARKING THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SECOND ARMOURED BRIGADE’S FORMATION TOMORROW

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 6 /SRNA/ – The 34th anniversary of the formation of the Second Armoured Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, which more than 3,000 soldiers served during its existence, will be marked in Banja Luka tomorrow.

One of the brigade's wartime commanders, Colonel Miko Škorić, told SRNA that around 3,000 soldiers served the brigade during the war, while 86 of them fell for freedom and their homeland. "Their sacrifice obliges us to preserve the memory of them and pass on the truth about their feat to future generations," Škorić said. He stressed that the brigade members demonstrated a high degree of courage, professionalism, and self-sacrifice, making an immeasurable contribution to the defence of the Serb people and Republika Srpska. "Their heroism, dedication, and love for their people remain permanently inscribed in the history of Republika Srpska," Škorić emphasized. He recalled that the Second Armoured Brigade was formed on June 10, 1992, shortly after the establishment of the Republika Srpska Army. From the very beginning, he noted, it was one of the key manoeuvre units entrusted with some of the most complex combat missions on numerous battlefields. According to Škorić, veterans and families of fallen soldiers gather every year to pay tribute to their fallen comrades, visit the memorial room, and lay wreaths at their final resting places. "With special respect and reverence, we remember all the fallen soldiers who gave their lives in the defence of Republika Srpska. This is our duty and obligation to those who gave the most they had. Time passes, but the memory of the soldiers of the Second Armoured Brigade must never fade," Škorić said. The Second Armoured Brigade participated in the Operation Corridor 92 and made a significant contribution to the defence and stabilization of the front around Doboj, as well as on the Derventa and Vozuća battlefields. It also played a key role in the liberation of Brod in 1992. The brigade was established on Manjača near Banja Luka on June 10, 1992, and remained active on the battlefield until November 1995. The Second Armoured Brigade was formed from personnel and military equipment of the JNA Armoured and Mechanized Units Training Centre "Petar Drapšin" in Banja Luka. The brigade was awarded the Petar Mrkonjić Medal for its service during the war.