Oleksandr O. Vedilin

Vedylin Oleksandr Oleksiyovych was born on November 25, 1980, in the city of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, Cherkasy district, Cherkasy region. In 1997, he graduated from school No. 1 in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi and entered a military university. Having obtained a qualification as a telecommunications engineer and an officer of tactical level military management, in 2002 he joined the maritime security of the State Border Service in Mariupol. He then served in Crimea. In 2014, after the annexation of Crimea by Russian troops, he and his unit moved to the mainland, remaining a devoted defender of Ukraine. He participated in combat operations and took direct part in the anti-terrorist operation. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, as part of the 23rd maritime security unit, he bravely and steadfastly carried out combat missions to defend the city of Mariupol. In March 2022, Mariupol was under complete blockade. The city was being shelled by Russian occupiers, and the situation was becoming critical. The enemy did not cease attempts to conduct offensive actions, changing tactics and directions of attack to encircle and close in on the city. Despite the bombardment of Mariupol by Russian rocket artillery, due to the courage and patriotism of the servicemen of the 23rd maritime security unit, among whom was Captain 3rd rank Oleksandr Vedylin, along with consolidated units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, they continued to hold their combat positions and defend the city. As a result of the fighting, the occupiers suffered significant losses, with a large number of personnel and artillery systems destroyed. On March 31, 2022, at 7:05 AM, during combat duty at the command post of the unit, Oleksandr Vedylin was injured in an airstrike, which was incompatible with life. The serviceman was temporarily buried in Mariupol. On September 22, 2022, Oleksandr Vedylin was reburied with honors in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi. For personal courage and selfless actions demonstrated in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and loyalty to the military oath, Captain 3rd rank Oleksandr Vedylin was posthumously awarded the Order of "For Courage" of the 3rd degree.