Oleksandr S. Minchenko (Avatar)

Oleksandr Minchenko was born in the village of Polyanyivka in the Melitopol district of the Zaporizhzhia region. He graduated from a rural school. After completing his mandatory military service, he returned to his village and got married. Before the war, he worked as a driver and raised a son with his wife. When Russian troops occupied Crimea, he decided to defend his homeland and put on a uniform again after nearly a 15-year break. He was enlisted as a soldier in the newly formed 23rd Territorial Defense Battalion of the Zaporizhzhia region "Khortytsia," serving as a senior gunner in the grenade launcher platoon. As part of the battalion, Oleksandr went through a difficult combat path from soldier to sergeant, liberating settlements in Donbas from pro-Russian mercenaries and defending the approaches to Mariupol. In March 2015, he returned with his unit from the combat zone to Zaporizhzhia. He was awaiting demobilization, but he decided to continue his military service under contract. On November 3, 2015, he was awarded the Order of "For Courage" of the III degree. Risking his life, he fought his way to his comrades who were surrounded by militants and led them to safety. He received his order at the front near the village of Hnutove. By that time, Oleksandr already held the rank of sergeant and was the deputy commander of the platoon.