Vitalii V. Melnikov (Vetal)

Senior soldier Vitaliy Melnikov (call sign Vetal) was killed on May 4, 2023 near the village of Minkivka in the Donetsk region. While performing his duties, he received fatal gunshot wounds to the neck. The defender was 52 years old. Vitaliy was born in the village of Parypsy, Zhytomyr region. After school, he obtained the profession of painter-plasterer at the Skvyrske Vocational and Technical School No. 29. He was a private entrepreneur. He was fond of football and loved to play FIFA on the console. In 2014-2015, he participated in the ATO. With the start of the full-scale war, the man took up arms again to defend his native country from the enemy. He fought against the invaders in the ranks of the 30th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Kostiantyn Pestushko. "My father was a true patriot of Ukraine, he did not wait for summons, calls from the military enlistment office, but went on the very first day of the full-scale invasion. He was an honest, decent, cheerful, and brave person. He was wounded, but after recovering, he immediately returned to the front line. From the first days, he was always at zero," said Yaroslav Melnikov. The warrior was buried in the village of Popilnia, Zhytomyr region. At home, Vitaliy was awaited by his wife and son.