Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov (russian: Андрей Александрович Мельников, be, Андрэй Мельнікаў; 11 April 1968 – 8 January 1988) was a machine gunner with the rank of
private in the 9th Company of the
345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
The 345th Guards Airborne Regiment (345th PPD) of the Soviet Airborne Forces, and after 1992, the Russian Airborne Forces, was active from 1944 to 1998.
History
It was formed on 30 December 1944 at Lapichi, Osipovichi district, Mogilev Oblast, ...
under the
40th Army during the Soviet-Afghan war.
Melnikov was present during the
Battle for Hill 3234 as an
RPK
The RPK (russian: Ручной пулемёт Калашникова/РПК, Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova, link=no, English: "Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun"), sometimes retroactively termed the RPK-47, is a Soviet 7.62×39mm light machine ...
gunner. During the late night of January 8, Melnikov blunted a strong
mujahideen attack on the 9th Company's position, at the cost of his life. For his bravery and skill under fire, Melnikov was posthumously awarded the title of
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union (russian: Герой Советского Союза, translit=Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for ...
.
See also
*
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov
References
https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230758/http://www.rsva.ru/biblio/prose_af/afgan-soldiers/5.shtml
1968 births
1988 deaths
People from Mogilev
Heroes of the Soviet Union
Belarusian military personnel
Soviet military personnel killed in the Soviet-Afghan War
Soviet military personnel of the Soviet–Afghan War
Personnel of the Soviet Airborne Forces
Belarusian aviators
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