In the spring of 2014, the Donetsk region found itself at the epicenter of turbulent events: for the first time, Russia—shedding its mask as a friendly neighbor—began seizing Ukrainian territories using pro-Russian mercenaries and, later, its regular army. Numerous settlements were occupied. As early as May, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with volunteer battalions, began liberating settlements in the region. Today, it is important to honor the memory of the heroes who bravely stood up to defend Ukraine from the very first days of the war and who have paid—and continue to pay—an exorbitant price for our freedom.
On July 4, 2014, the 93rd Mechanized Brigade engaged in its first tank battle, facing superior enemy forces.
The 10th checkpoint, near which the clash took place, was established by ATO forces in late June 2014, almost behind Russian lines, between the villages of Persha Novoselivka and Umanske in the Yasinovataya District. Its main purpose was to cut off the enemy group’s lines of communication, increase the presence of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk region, and draw enemy tanks away from Sloviansk.
The enemy attack began around 5:00 a.m. A tank opened fire on the Ukrainian checkpoint. After the tank strike, the enemy continued to attack the camp with grenade launchers and small arms. A sniper provided cover for the enemy vehicles’ advance. The enemy’s attacks were aimed at destroying the military camp and the Ukrainian BMPs.
The commander of the Ukrainian unit, Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Mamadaliyev, ordered the crew to take up positions in the BMP and return fire. The soldiers repelled the enemy’s attacks to the very end, even after an enemy shell had disabled the BMP.
This allowed the unit to withdraw to positions from which to repel the attack. The enemy tank shifted its focus to destroying the armored vehicles and, with a direct hit, killed the IFV crew. The fallen soldiers bought their comrades precious minutes, which allowed dozens of lives to be saved.
Colonel Volodymyr Mamadaliyev and soldiers Oleksandr Savenkov, Dmytro Shevchenko, Andriy Krylov, Oleksiy Zaika, Ruslan Rushchak, and Dmytro Chabanov were killed in action.
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 631/2014 dated August 2, 2014, for their personal courage and heroism displayed in defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, Oleksandr Savenkov, Dmytro Shevchenko, Andriy Krylov, Oleksiy Zaika, Ruslan Rushchak, and Dmytro Chabanov were awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class (posthumously).
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 640/2014 dated August 8, 2014, for personal courage and heroism displayed in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Volodymyr Mamadaliyev was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class (posthumously).