Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović Buried
Wednesday, 10.6.2026 | News
Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, a member of the 2nd Army Brigade, who died in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been buried today with military honors in the Kovači settlement in Kraljevo.
Along with family members, relatives, colleagues and friends, the funeral was attended by Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić, Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff Lieutenant General Tiosav Janković, Army Commander Major General Zoran Nasković, members of the Collegium of the Chief of General Staff and other high-ranking leaders and officers of the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces.
In memory of Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović and as an expression of gratitude of the homeland for his selfless service and contribution to the performance of tasks of the Serbian Armed Forces, Commander of the 2nd Army Brigade, Brigadier General Nebojša Nedeljković, handed over the flag of the Republic of Serbia to his father Miloš Jovanović.
Earlier today, at the “Ribnica” Barracks in Kraljevo, a commemoration was held where colleagues from the unit paid tribute to the fallen Staff Sergeant Jovanović.
On that occasion, Commander of the 2nd Army Brigade, Brigadier General Nebojša Nedeljković, presented the medal of the United Nations for the preservation of peace in the world to the spouse of the fallen NCO Ana Jovanović, as the highest of the five medals awarded posthumously to the fallen member of the Serbian Armed Forces for meritorious service and conscientious performance of tasks in the UNIFIL. Among other things, he was awarded medals of the Republic of Lebanon and the Kingdom of Spain for his bravery.
Addressing the family and those present at the commemoration, General Nedeljković has pointed out that Staff Sergeant Jovanović was a role model, both in his private life and in the military organization he was an indispensable part of in all tasks.
— He selflessly shared knowledge and experience, without sparing himself he provided support to younger colleagues, setting an example for future generations. He was loved by his colleagues and comrades, known and recognized wherever he was and whatever he did - said General Nedeljković, stressing that Staff Sergeant Jovanović will be remembered in the collective as a symbol of stability, firm belief and fairness.
Father Miloš Jovanović, sister Marija Kovačević and cousin Dušan Kovačević spoke on behalf of the family, and company commander Captain 1st Class Stefan Novosel said goodbye to Staff Sergeant Jovanović on behalf of his colleagues from the unit.
Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović died on June 4 as a result of injuries sustained when a missile fell on the UN base in Lebanon, where he was engaged as part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. Members of the UN peacekeeping forces paid tribute to their fallen colleague in Beirut on June 7, from where his body was transported to the Republic of Serbia. The reception of the body of Staff Sergeant Jovanović was conducted on June 9 at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, with an honorary formation of members of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Because of the death of Staff Sergeant Jovanovic, yesterday was a Day of Mourning in all organizational units of the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces. The fallen member of the Serbian Armed Forces was honored with a minute of silence, while the flags of the Republic of Serbia at all facilities of the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces were lowered to half-mast. Today is the Day of Mourning in Kraljevo, the hometown of the fallen member of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović was born on June 06, 1989 in Kraljevo. He has been a member of the Serbian Armed Forces since December 10, 2011, and since 2019 he has been serving in the 27th Mechanized Battalion at the “Jovan Kursula” Barracks in Kraljevo, from where he went on a peacekeeping mission to the Republic of Lebanon in January this year. He left behind his wife and two minor children.
