"Ruslan and I are from twins, he is 15 minutes older than me, which he jokingly reminded me from time to time. We have always been good friends", - this is how Lyudmila Melnyk begins her story for "History of the Strong". She is from Vinnytsia, an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Currently, he is collecting aid for the military, the wounded, and is waiting for the return of his brother, who went missing during the defense of Mariupol, from the front.
At the beginning of Russia's hybrid war, the situation in the Armed Forces was not very good. So in 2015, after receiving a summons to the Military Committee and three days for the meeting, Ruslan enrolled in the ranks of the "Azov" battalion. He was trained there, became an attack fighter and was sent to defend Mariupol.
"During those difficult times, the soldiers equipped themselves. And I also embroidered an embroidered talisman for him. While embroidering, I prayed, asking God for protection for my brother..." - recalls Lyudmila. And he adds that the brother "grew into a tall, powerful man: quick, decisive, principled, passionate, courageous." He was engaged in various sports, loved to fish, cooked deliciously. He had the call sign "Kutuzov" - that's what he was called in the yard because of the bandage he used to wear over his damaged eye as a child.