28.06.2025.

President Vučić presents decoration to 204th Air Force Brigade on St. Vitus Day

Today, at the Palace of Serbia, at a ceremony on St. Vitus Day, President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić, has presented the decoration - Order of Merit in Defence and Security, 1^st class, to the 204^th Air Force Brigade of the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence.

The ceremony of awarding St. Vitus Day decorations to deserving individuals and institutions was attended by General Milan Mojsilović, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff.

The order for the above-average, exemplary and honourable performance of duties and tasks in the fields of defence and security, which was awarded to the 204^th Air Force Brigade, was presented to its Commander, Brigadier General Milan Elenkov.

On this occasion, the Golden Medal for Bravery ‘Miloš Obilić’ was posthumously awarded to Second Lieutenant Predrag Peđa Leovac, a hero who died in 1999 in a battle against Albanian terrorists in the area of the Kosare guardhouse. The decoration was received by his father Mile Leovac.

Addressing the awardees, President Vučić emphasized that the symbolism of this day is not solely about martyrdom, suffering, defeats, heroism, mistakes or victories, but, more than that, it refers to the fundamental question - what are you ready to do for your country, what do you want to give it and how much do you love it.

- The answers to these questions make up our entire history. When we knew them, we won, when we were confused, when we wandered in the answer, we lost, often heroically, but we lost. And that is why today there is no more important duty for me than to recognize all of us together, to single out and reward all those who not only knew that answer, but also announced it loudly, regardless of the dangers they were exposed to. This is important because we live in a time when there are many who want Serbia to win, but also those who want to defeat Serbia. These are those who come from outside, some who, I believe, serve without understanding and who want to take something from their country. There are those who want Serbia to grow and those who want Serbia to stop, those who dream of its gains and those whose only dream is its losses of any kind - President Vučić said.

He emphasised that he believed that we would now know how to choose the right path that has nothing to do with ideologies, political parties, or even with power, but “has only to do with our future, with the future of our children, with what we dream of, what we want for them”.

- For me, this St. Vitus Day is special, it is a beautiful day, and our people have always said that everything is visible on St. Vitus Day. You can see who is brave and who is wise, who does so much for their country and who does everything the opposite. St. Vitus Day is more important to us Serbs than anything else, than any other holiday. St. Vitus Day is woven into our conception, our development, progress, our pains, suffering and rising again like a Phoenix from the ashes, to current situation in which Serbia lives incomparably better than it has ever lived before. It's just that we Serbs never like to admit it - the President of Serbia emphasised, adding that it is time to “celebrate life, to start celebrating victories and to continue winning”.

Addressing the awardees, President Vučić especially pointed out the great responsibility of being decorated with the order of our country.

- I am sure that your responsibility, seriousness, and dedication will be even greater, but at the same time a direction for all those younger people who come after you - President Vučić said, congratulating the laureates and thanking them for everything they have done for Serbia.

The Commander of the 204^th Air Force Brigade, Brigadier General Milan Elenkov, emphasised the importance of the award for his unit.

- The order represents a confirmation and an obligation. It is a confirmation that the 204^th Air Force Brigade did its job well. The recognition also obliges future generations to stay on that path and that the number one priority in our work must be the defence of the state - General Elenkov pointed out.