On March 24, 2025, memorial events were held in Serbia to honor the victims of the 1999 NATO bombings. On this day, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije held a memorial service at the "Colonel Pilot Milenko Pavlović" airport in Batajnica to commemorate those who died, according to the Serbian Church website. The ceremony was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik. After the service, participants honored the victims with a moment of silence.

In his sermon, the Patriarch noted that the Serbian people have rarely known peace and prosperity throughout their history, and therefore, the desire for peace and love should be their main guiding principle in life. "If we want to call ourselves children of Saint Sava and Prince Lazar, we must reject hatred and seek reconciliation," emphasized Porfirije.

He reminded that the memory of the 1999 tragedy calls on Serbs to repentance and spiritual renewal. "Repentance is not only a way to draw closer to God but also a path to unity among people. It helps to rid ourselves of hatred, conflicts, and wars that destroy not only nations but also human souls," said the Patriarch.

Speaking about the ongoing wars in the world, he compared them to the ancient fratricide of Cain, noting that hatred blinds people to the presence of their neighbor. "We must remember Christ's words about loving our neighbor, and even more difficult—our enemies. Only saints are capable of this, but we must strive for this ideal," declared the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Concluding his speech, Patriarch Porfirije offered a prayer for peace and urged the people not to succumb to evil and hostility. "Lord, accept our sincere prayer and forgive us our sins. Help hatred give way to love, and sorrow to joy. Save our land and people from injustice and discord," said the leader of the Serbian Church.

NATO's military operation in Yugoslavia began on March 24, 1999. The alliance's leadership stated that the primary goal of the operation was to prevent the genocide of the Albanian population in Kosovo. According to military experts, 3,000 cruise missiles were launched, and around 80,000 tons of bombs, including cluster bombs and those with depleted uranium, were dropped. Both military targets and civilian infrastructure were hit. According to Serbian authorities, 1,700 civilians died during the bombings, including nearly 400 children, and approximately 10,000 were seriously wounded. According to the UN, 821 people went missing, most of them Serbs. The bombings ceased after the signing of the Military-Technical Agreement in Kumanovo between representatives of the Yugoslav army and NATO countries.