Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
17.05.2026.

Monument to Captain 1st Class Veliša Kijanović officially unveiled



A monument to Captain First Class Veliša Kiijanović, who was killed in 2001 while carrying out a combat mission in the Ground Safety Zone, was officially unveiled today at Dimitrije Tucović Square in Kolovrat, a suburb of Prijepolje.
On the 25th anniversary of the death of Captain First Class Kijanović, the monument was unveiled by the President of the Prijepolje Municipality, Drago Popadić, together with Dejan Žugić, Dragoljub Rakonjac, and Milan Ješić, members of the organizing committee for the construction of the monument. Following the unveiling ceremony, priests from the Mileševa Eparchy consecrated the monument to the fallen officer.

In the presence of numerous citizens, a wreath was laid at the monument by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence led by State Secretary Mile Jelić. The delegation also included the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Nikola Matović, and Lieutenant Colonel Igor Kočović of the Second Army Brigade.
Wreaths were also laid by the Kijanović family, Advisor to the Serbian Prime Minister’s Office General Milorad Stupar (ret.), representatives of the Municipality of Prijepolje, members of the Association of Veterans and the War-Disabled, and many others.

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, representatives of the organizing committee presented a commemorative plaque to Captain Kijanović’s family.   
Plaques were also presented to the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Municipality of Prijepolje, as well as to representatives of institutions that supported the construction of the monument.

Captain First Class Veliša Kijanović, born in Prijepolje in 1969, was killed on May 17, 2001, while carrying out a mission in the Ground Safety Zone. He was the commander of a combined unit of the Yugoslav Armed Forces, tasked with securing the administrative boundary line with Kosovo and Metohija. He is remembered within the Serbian Armed Forces as a brave and honourable officer, dedicated to his service.
 
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17.05.2026
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The monument unveiling ceremony
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
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