28.09.2021.
Minister Stefanović receivеs families of Major Tepić and Private Mirković
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, talked to the families of Major Milan Tepić and Private Stojadin Mirković, who died heroically on September 29, 1991, defending the military depot of the then Yugoslav People’s Army from Croatian units.
Tanja Tepić Rosić, the daughter of Major Milan Tepić, and Anka Mirković, the mother of Private Stojadin Mirković attended the meeting.
"Serbia must remember heroes like Milan Tepić and Stojadin Mirković. Not only our children, but also future generations must know who the greatest among us were and how great their heroism was. They sacrificed their lives without any hesitation for the homeland and our people, and that is why we are obliged to remember them, to look after their families and not allow their names and deeds to ever be forgotten," said Minister Stefanović.In September 1991, Major Milan Tepić and a group of soldiers defended the "Barutana" depot in the Bedenik forest near Bjelovar, which was attacked by the Croatian National Guard troops who wanted to get the ammunition and explosives stored there. Realizing that there was a danger that the ammunition entrusted to him would fall into the hands of the enemy, Major Tepić activated the detonator and destroyed the depot, consciously sacrificing his life.
Immediately before that, Major Tepić had ordered his soldiers to withdraw, but Private Stojadin Mirković disobeyed the order and continued to shoot at Croatian troops and was soon fatally wounded. Tomorrow marks thirty years since the death of the two heroes.
Major Milan Tepić was posthumously awarded the Order of the People’s Hero which makes him the last Yugoslav hero. Private Stojadin Mirković was awarded the Order of Merit in Defence and Security, class 1.