Heroes Among Us
6/28/2024
The Zaporizhstal employee discussed his military experience, post-service employment, and transition back to civilian life.
Returning to a peaceful life is made easier for Oleksandr Panchenko by his family, his native enterprise, and his job.In March 2022, Oleksandr Panchenko, head of the automation control department of Zaporizhstal, volunteered for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During that period, the plant was preparing for a forced shutdown of production."When the full-scale war began, I was well aware that my skills would be valuable. Given my expertise in radiation and chemical weapons, I served in radiation and chemical reconnaissance during my younger years. When the occupiers initiated attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and later when the russians employed chemical weapons in Mariupol, I felt compelled to act," says Oleksandr PANCHENKO.During that period, the plant was getting ready for a hot mothballing. After preparing the equipment for shutdown and archiving the software, Oleksandr joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 7 March 2022. He underwent training