The young Zaporizhstal employee Oleksandr Melnikov perished in the first weeks of the full‑scale war while repelling an enemy attack in the Donetsk region.

In civilian life, Oleksandr Melnikov had worked at Zaporizhstal as an assistant locomotive driver in the railway transport department. He had worked at the enterprise for a short time, nearly a year. When the full‑scale invasion began, the 25‑year‑old man was on vacation. 

On February 27, 2022, Oleksandr voluntarily went to the military enlistment office. That same day, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He joined the newly formed 6th Separate Rifle Battalion, created from volunteers of the Zaporizhzhia region, where he served as a senior rifleman under the callsign "Dushman".

The mother of the fallen soldier, Vira Melnіkova, recalls a conversation with her son in the first days of the war:

"I told him: "Son, this is war." And he replied: “if everyone runs away now, who will defend the country? I am going to defend you, our loved ones, and all of Ukraine." 

On April 1, 2022, Oleksandr Melnikov perished while repelling a Russian attack near the village of Rozdolne in the Velyka Novosilka district of Donetsk region. In the battle, he tried to save his comrades, carrying the wounded out of the battlefield. 

Oleksandr’s comrade, with the callsign "Banshchyk" said:

"The battle was very difficult; I was severely wounded. Dushman ran up to me, helped me, gave me water, and told me to stay down, while he himself returned to the battlefield. He did everything, and even more, to defend the Homeland. He perished while singing the Ukrainian anthem in the face of the enemy. He died a Hero."

Oleksandr Melnykov was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage" Third Class. A portrait of the fallen Warrior was placed on the Alley of Heroes in the village of Bilenke, in his native homeland.

We bow our heads before the heroism of the fallen warriors, for they paid the highest price on the path to victory!