Skopje, 8 August 2025 (MIA) – A delegation of the Defense Ministry and the Army General Staff, led by state secretary Elizabeta Chupovska Ristova and General Staff Director, Brigadier General Orce Jordev, laid Friday a wreath at the memorial commemorating the Macedonian defenders who were killed in 2001 at the Karpalak site.

“Ten Prilep defenders, Sasho Kitanoski, Nane Naumoski, Branko Sekuloski, Marko Despotoski, Erdovan Shabanoski, Ljube Grujoski, Darko Veljanoski, Vebi Rushitoski, Goran Minoski, and Pece Sekuloski, lost their lives to protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the homeland,” the Defense Ministry says Friday in a press release. 

Paying tributes, wreaths were also laid by delegations from the government, led by Deputy PM Ljupcho Dimovski, from the President’s office, by representatives of the families of the killed servicemen, and from citizens’ associations and political parties.

Wreaths will be also laid at the memorial of the Macedonian heroes in downtown Prilep.

Yesterday, a mass was held at the Sveta Petka monastery near the monument in the Prilep village of Lenishte erected in their honor.

Ten army reservists were killed on August 8 when their convoy was ambushed near Karpalak on the Skopje – Tetovo road during the 2001 conflict.

Photo: MoD