Sergeant Milovan Jovanović Posthumously Decorated
Friday, 3.7.2026 | News
A ceremony to honour the Sergeant of the Serbian Armed Forces, Milovan Jovanović, who tragically died honourably performing his duty while serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, was held today in Belgrade.
The Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces and the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić, posthumously awarded Sergeant Jovanović the Order of Karađorđe's Star of the First Class, for outstanding merits in representing the Republic of Serbia in the field of security and defence, while the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, Margarita Robles Fernández, awarded Jovanović the Cross of the Military Merit with Yellow Decoration of the Kingdom of Spain.
On this occasion, President Vučić presented the decoration to the father of the deceased member of the Serbian Armed Forces, Miloš Jovanović, and the Spanish Minister of Defence to his wife, Ana.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence, Bratislav Gašić, and the Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović.
President Vučić said that Sergeant Milovan Jovanović was a true Serbian hero who was a brave, courageous and decent man, a wonderful parent and a good husband.
— I want to thank you, Mrs Robles, for coming to Serbia together with 11 members of the Spanish Armed Forces, who, together with our Milovan, were at the base "Miguel de Cervantes". Many thanks to the Spanish soldiers and many thanks to the Serbian soldiers — the President of Serbia emphasized, adding that Jovanović was on an honourable mission that he performed proudly, bravely and with dignity.
He emphasized that Sergeant Jovanović did a lot for peace and freedom, and what his military honour and oath given to Serbia obliged him to do. President Vučić said that Jovanović, while preserving peace and performing his duty, laid the most valuable thing he had on the altar of honour.
— Your life and your name will be written in the history of your country, your Serbia. You left as heroes do, with dignity and heart. That is why, Milovan, I posthumously award you the Order of Karađorđe's Star of the First Class. I awarded you that order with a sense of pain and great pride. With pain, because you are not here to receive it, with pain, because I have met your wonderful family and I see how difficult it is for them, and with pride, because you earned it with every day of your service, every moment in which you performed your duty. Rest in peace, dear Milovan. Serbia will not forget you. And, more importantly, it will not and must not forget your family — said the President of Serbia.
The President of the Republic emphasized that today two friendly countries are united in the same pain and the same respect.
— Heroism knows no boundaries. Milovan Jovanović carried the Serbian flag far from his home. He stood just as proudly under the Spanish flag at the joint base. I thank you and I thank the Kingdom of Spain for this gesture of deep humanity and allied honour. Spain's decision to award a Serbian non-commissioned officer the Cross of the Military Merit speaks of something essential. This decision is a confirmation that there are values which are stronger than politics, stronger than protocol, stronger than all interests — said the President of Serbia.
The Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, Margarita Robles Fernández, emphasized that it is a great honour to have the opportunity today to present the family of Sergeant Milovan Jovanović with the highest decoration that Spain gives to those who gave their lives in the course of service.
She emphasized that the order is of great importance because it represents an expression of compassion of the Spanish people and its Armed Forces, and noted that Sergeant Jovanović will never be forgotten.
Sergeant Milovan Jovanović was born on the 6th June, 1989 in Kraljevo, and he joined the Serbian Armed Forces on the 10th December, 2011. He died on the 4th June from injuries sustained when a missile hit the United Nations base in Lebanon, where he was deployed as part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. With his departure, the Serbian Armed Forces lost an honourable non-commissioned officer and an exceptional leader and professional. During his military career, he was awarded and commended several times, and he left behind a wife and two minor children.
