Oleksandr M. Minchenko (Miach)

54-year-old junior sergeant Oleksandr Minchenko (call sign Ball) was killed on December 17, 2023 near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. While trying to pull out and rescue a wounded comrade, he himself received fatal injuries during a repeated enemy shelling. Oleksandr was born in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Institute of Railway Transport with a specialization in "Locomotives" and obtained the qualification of mechanical engineer. He had loved reading since childhood. He knew the history of Ukraine well and read many history books. He was passionate about football - he loved not only watching, but also playing with his son and his friends. From 1991 to 2019, he worked at the Mudriyon wagon depot of the Prydniprovsk Railway. His last place of work was a diesel plant. During the full-scale war, Oleksandr was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as part of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. "A loving husband and father who cared about his country. He was honest, sincere, cheerful, and decent. He was open and humane with those around him. He loved children very much, and the children were also drawn to him," said the deceased's son Dmytro. The hero was buried at the Western Cemetery in his hometown. Oleksandr is survived by his wife, son, and sister.