A public meeting was held at the Museum with serviceman, UAV operator, and combat medic of the 1st Company of the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the101st Brigade for the Protection of the General Staff named after Colonel-General Henadii Vorobiov, and veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ihor Melnyk. The event was moderated by Senior Research Fellow of the Museum, Olha Vorobiei.
In his introductory speech, the Head of the Military History Research Sector, Serhii Siryi, emphasized that it is a great honor for our institution to record the testimonies of the defenders. He noted that the Museum’s mission is to illuminate, research, and document the War for Ukraine’s Independence.
Ihor Melnyk encountered the Russian full-scale invasion in the capital. After the first explosions, he immediately decided to evacuate his wife and daughter (who was less than a year old) to the Bila Tserkva region and join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
From 2022 until today, Ihor has been defending our Motherland from the Russian invaders. He fought in the Kharkiv and Toretsk directions. Initially, he was a senior position holder, then he completed training as a platoon combat medic, saving many lives of our defenders. Currently, he serves as a UAV operator.
During a warm conversation with the event moderator, Olha Vorobiei, Ihor shared his war memories. The serviceman’s story about trophies was the most impressive to all attendees. The most valuable among them was an undamaged occupiers’ walkie-talkie. For almost two months, this device allowed our soldiers to learn about the enemy’s location, their plans, and ambushes. The intelligence obtained was invaluable, as our defenders managed not only to timely redeploy to safe positions but also to deliver devastating strikes against the enemy.
For his demonstrated courage and valor, and the successful completion of combat missions, Junior Sergeant (Corporal) Ihor Melnyk was awarded the “Golden Cross” badge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At the end of the meeting, the warrior donated valuable artifacts to the Museum: his personal medical aid kit, a shoulder sleeve insignia with the inscription “Medic,” a name badge, a lighter with the Coat of Arms of Ukraine, and trophy items, including an AK pencil case, two military IDs, a medical aid kit, an Any Tone radio, and a “Zenit” camera found near a destroyed house in the city of Toretsk.
The War Museum is sincerely grateful to Ihor Melnyk for the warm meeting and the donated artifacts. We admire the courage of our warriors who are fighting for the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
