The guest of a new meeting in the “Heroes of War” series was scout of the reconnaissance unit of the 2nd Security Battalion 101st Brigade for the Protection of the General Staff named after Colonel-General Henadii Vorobiov, Senior Soldier Vladyslav Melnykov.
Vladyslav faced the full-scale invasion in the Kyiv region. He immediately headed to the capital, where he joined various volunteer initiatives. As early as March 2022, he was making attempts to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, he managed to enlist only a year after the beginning of the full-scale war, his young age and lack of military experience stood in the way.
Vladyslav underwent military training in the United Kingdom. After completing his training, he was deployed on rotation to the Donetsk region. His combat path ran through the settlements of Maiorsk, Pivnichne, Shumy, and Toretsk. There, he had to face positional trench warfare in open terrain. At one of the hottest points, he was appointed as a senior.
Later, his unit took part in the defense of the Kharkiv region, in particular in the Kupiansk direction. Here, the nature of combat operations was different, fighting in urban areas continued. During his last rotation, Vladyslav served as the senior in a strike-and-search group that conducted clearing operations in the city.
Even during his training, he paid special attention to tactical medicine. “In combat conditions,” the soldier emphasizes, “you can often rely only on yourself and your comrades.” This knowledge proved essential during one of the missions in the Kharkiv region, when Vladyslav sustained a serious injury a gunshot wound to the leg. He had to apply a tourniquet himself and monitor the condition of the wound. Evacuation was impossible for several days. It was his measured actions and the support of his comrades that helped save the limb. Later, doctors at a Kharkiv hospital successfully removed the bullet.
Vladyslav is distinguished by exceptionally high motivation. He explains it by his knowledge of the history of the Ukrainian people’s struggle and the example of friends and acquaintances who have been defending Ukraine since 2014. “…at one point, when I thought everything through, I realized that I would simply morally consume myself if I didn’t join,” the soldier recalls.
Senior Soldier Vladyslav Melnykov was awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine distinction “Golden Cross” for his valorous service. The soldier treats the award with restraint, perceiving it as a remembrance of his fallen comrades.
Despite his injury, Vladyslav plans to return to combat duties after recovery. He is convinced that the war must be brought to victory, and the enemy must be completely defeated.
The War Museum sincerely thanks Vladyslav for his openness and for the opportunity to hear his story of struggle. Such meetings help preserve the living memory of the ongoing war and the people who today defend Ukraine’s independence and freedom.
