On August 7, 2023, Russia launched two strikes on residential buildings in Pokrovsk. Nine people were killed, among them 52-year-old Andrii Omelchenko, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service (SES) in Donetsk Oblast.
"During the second strike, a Russian missile killed our colleague Andrii Omelchenko — an officer who was always there when fires were extinguished and the aftermath of Russian terror was being dealt with. This is an irreparable loss," wrote SES Head Serhii Kruk.
Andrii was born in 1971 in the village of Vyshneve and graduated from the Dokuchaievsk Mining College. He served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and later worked for over 25 years in the State Emergency Service. Since March 2020, he had served as Deputy Head of the Directorate.
Colleagues remember him as principled, experienced, and compassionate.
"Andrii was a true professional and simply a good person," said his colleague Volodymyr Salohub.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and sister.
At 9:00 a.m., a nationwide moment of silence is observed. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes’ Memorial platform commemorate the residents of Donetsk Oblast killed by Russian forces.