[3][4] Born to a farming family in the village of Kremna, near Prnjavor, FPR Yugoslavia (modern day Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Milanković helped his father in the fields, working alongside Bosniak Muslims.

In 1980, he was allegedly reported multiple times for illegally cutting down and stealing wood, and was arrested by the police for these charges, but was later released.

He fought originally for the independence of Republika Srpska and joined the 1st Krajina Corps, but upon his promotion to second lieutenant, he was permitted to create a paramilitary group named the Wolves of Vučjak.

He led them until his death in 1993; under his command, the Wolves saw action in Modriča, Derventa, Jasenovac, Pakrac, Okučani, Bosanska, and Kninska Krajina.

During Operation Maslenica, Milanković led an assault with his Wolves unit against Croatian positions in western Dalmatia.