In memory of soldier Andrii Melnyk, known by his call sign "Viking."
Andriy Melnyk was born in 1985 in the Ternopil region. He was passionate about sports, with football being his particular love. Long before the full-scale war, he joined the local football club "Plotycha" and played in district championships.
1 When the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, Andriy was abroad, working in Great Britain. However, upon learning about the enemy's attack, he returned and from the first months of the war, he stood up to defend the country. It’s no surprise that the stout, red-bearded man was immediately nicknamed "The Viking".
2 “Andriy Melnyk was strong, responsible, and always cared for his comrades. He loved animals: cats, dogs – they were all his friends amidst the horrific conditions of combat,” the Ternopil Football Association later wrote.
3 Andriy defended the country from the enemy for almost three years as part of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel. But one day it all came to an end - on December 17, 2024, "The Viking" fell in battle in Donetsk.
4 “My Universe, my Defender, my Everything! The ground shifted beneath my feet. Damn war,” reacted Galina, the soldier's wife, to the tragic news.
Comrades referred to Andriy as a person of great stature, with a big and sincere heart and an open soul. On December 22, they honored the fallen and laid him to rest in his native Ternopil region.
5 “I am grateful I got to know him and his wife, and I am proud of my friendship with them… "The Viking" will forever remain in my memory… They say heroes never die. Yes, they do not die, but they leave us for another, perhaps better world… And we remain to preserve the memory of them… because they are Heroes, Titans, Angels who spared no effort for our freedom. Glory to you, "The Viking"... We will miss your smile, your jokes, your support with kind, humorous words,” wrote Svitlana, the mother of one of the comrades who personally knew the defender.
Honor and eternal memory to the Hero!
Photos: Ternopil Football Association, Facebook page of Alla Melnyk, Facebook page of Roman Zharovsky, and from open sources