Oleh D. Melnychenko (Dota)

23-year-old combat medic Oleh Melnychenko (call sign Dota) was killed on February 11, 2023 while performing his duties near the city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. He received fatal injuries as a result of a hostile artillery shell hitting the medical evacuation vehicle. Four of his comrades also was killed with him. Oleh was from the city of Zaporizhzhia. He studied at Gymnasium No. 108 in the city. He then graduated from the National University "Zaporizhia Polytechnic" with a bachelor's degree in economics. In peacetime, he worked in catering establishments. He was involved in sports. With the start of the full-scale war, he began volunteering in Kharkiv, where he lived at the time. On April 17, 2022, he went as a volunteer to the special unit "Kraken". In August 2022, he was transferred to the 227th battalion of the 127th separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During his service, soldier Oleh Melnychenko was awarded the commemorative medal "For the Defense of the Hero City of Kharkiv" and posthumously - the Order of Courage of the III degree. "My son was an amazing child. I am proud of my Hero! Courageous, independent, brave, disciplined, hardworking, responsible, organized, fair, active... There is much more that can be said about him. He loved life and loved to live, help, and create. Even during the war, when I was very worried about him and dreamed that he would return home, he said two phrases to me: 'Mom, the country can't cope without me,' 'I'm a cyborg, I'm immortal!'" - said Olena Melnychenko. The military man was buried at the St. Nicholas Cemetery in his native Zaporizhzhia. His parents and younger brother were waiting for him at home.