Military medic Oleksandr Zalishchuk killed in second Russian strike on Komishuvakha

Death during evacuation of the wounded

On 3 November 2026, military medic Oleksandr Zalishchuk was killed in an air strike by the Russian Federation on an underground shelter, which was being used as a school in the settlement of Komishuvakha in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. He was 53 years old. According to information received from relatives, after the first explosion, the man immediately rushed to help the wounded. He was killed during the second strike while he was in the shelter with other people.

Daughter’s testimony about the final days

His daughter, Oleksandra Vaskivska, spoke about her father’s death. According to her, she initially learned about the incident from the news and, while trying to contact her father, received no response. Later, she managed to reach the brigade commander, who informed her that at that moment, Oleksandr’s whereabouts were unknown.

«Я спочатку побачила в новинах, що сталося. Почала писати татові, а він не відповідав.... А потім я додзвонилася до командира бригади. Він сказав, що нічого не може сказати, бо поки сам не знає, де він, що тата не знайшли. Тіло вдалося знайти лише вчора в морзі. А потім я побачила відео, де в останні хвилини перед другим ударом в укритті був мій батько. Було видно, як він спускається туди з іншими людьми» (I first saw in the news that something had happened. I started writing to Dad, but he wasn't answering.... Then I managed to call the brigade commander. He said he couldn't say anything because he himself didn't know where he was yet, that Dad hadn't been found. The body was only found yesterday in the morgue. Then I saw a video where my father was in the shelter in the final minutes before the second strike. You could see him going down there with other people), Oleksandra said.

Relatives noted that they had been in daily contact until his death. «Ми постійно зідзвонювалися по відеозв’язку. У нього є онуки, він приїжджав до них, спілкувався. Буквально в суботу ми з дітьми говорили з ним по відеозв’язку. А в понеділок він уже не відповідав» (We were constantly talking on video calls. He has grandchildren, he used to visit them and talk to them. Literally on Saturday, my children and I were talking to him on a video call. And on Monday, he was already not answering), the daughter recalled.

Life path and professional choice

Oleksandr Zalishchuk’s home was Zhytomyr, where his wife and daughter with grandchildren were waiting for him. In peacetime, he changed several professions: he worked as a teacher and a paramedic. He also wrote poetry. The decision to go to war on a contract in 2024 was driven by his medical experience and an acquaintance who served in the same brigade.

His daughter describes her father as a person with an incredibly bright character and inexhaustible sense of humour. «Тато писав вірші і був дуже веселою людиною. Його всі знали тільки за позитив, бо він міг у будь-якій ситуації сказати щось, що людям підніме настрій. Навіть коли здавалося, що це неможливо. Усі найкращі спогади мого дитинства пов’язані з ним. Він був моїм найкращим другом, який підтримував мене у будь-чому» (Dad wrote poetry and was a very cheerful person. Everyone knew him only for his positivity, because he could say something in any situation that would lift people's spirits. Even when it seemed impossible. All the best memories of my childhood are associated with him. He was my best friend, who supported me in everything), Oleksandra shares.

Final farewell

Currently, the family is waiting for the completion of procedures and the preparation of documents at the morgue. The search mission "Na Shchiti" (On the Shield) will help organise the transfer of Oleksandr Zalishchuk’s body to Zhytomyr. The date of the funeral has not yet been determined.

«Мій шок ще не минув. Віра, що це трапилося, не настала. Просто хочеться думати, що хтось помилився. Його не мало там бути. Але він хотів допомогти. Знав, що там дуже мало медиків. Тато зараз би придумав, що сказати, щоб було трохи легше. Обов’язково пожартував би, і стало б краще...» (My shock has not yet passed. The belief that this happened has not set in. I just want to think that someone made a mistake. He was not supposed to be there. But he wanted to help. He knew there were very few medics there. Dad would now come up with something to say to make it a little easier. He would definitely make a joke, and it would get better...), says Oleksandra Vaskivska.