34 years ago, on 22 October 1992, Operation Vlaštica began, one of the final major liberation operations of the Croatian Army on the Southern Front. The objective was to liberate strategically important positions above Dubrovnik, from which Serb forces monitored the city and directed artillery fire.
During the fighting, Croatian forces took control of enemy positions. Among the fallen was Mate Vučak Čigra from Cista Velika, a member of the 3rd Imotska Battalion of the 4th Guards Brigade. He died on the first day of the operation, 22 October 1992, on Mrkasin Hill in the Dubrovnik hinterland.
On that rainy autumn morning, Čigra was leading a group of soldiers towards Mrkasin Hill. Despite difficult conditions, he refused to retreat. During the breakthrough, the enemy spotted them and opened heavy fire. In the crossfire, Milan Klarić and Mirko Čondić were severely wounded, while Mate was fatally hit by a bullet. According to testimonies relayed by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans and military sources, his last words were: "I am dying, long live Croatia!"
The friendship between Mate and Mirko Čondić formed in the early 1990s in their home region. They served together on the Dalmatian and Dubrovnik fronts. Čondić recalled Mate's selflessness and bravery, stating that there was no retreat with Čigra. He described him as a decisive, brave and disciplined commander who earned trust by going first or among the first.
After initial fighting and gradual advancement, Mrkasin Hill was captured on 24 October, breaking a significant part of the enemy defence. The following morning, on 25 October, Croatian soldiers took Vlaštica and entered Bobovište, successfully concluding the operation. The liberation of these positions improved the security of the Dubrovnik area. Vlaštica was one of the most important enemy positions above Dubrovnik, and its capture had been planned during Operation Tiger, but that objective was not achieved at the time.
In July 2024, a memorial park dedicated to his life and sacrifice was ceremonially opened in his hometown of Cista Velika. The park is located within the grounds of the primary school, with a bronze bust of the fallen veteran placed at the centre. His last words are engraved on the memorial, along with the insignia of the units to which he belonged. The project was initiated by local and veterans' associations, with the support of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans. The ceremony was attended by family members, comrades-in-arms, wartime commanders and many residents of the Imotska region. Among the guests were the Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković and former commanders of the 4th Guards Brigade. Franković recalled the words of the late General Nojko Marinović that children should be taught to remember, but not to hate, emphasising the importance of preserving the memory of the Homeland War.
