Oleksandr Topal served as a combat vehicle commander and led the 2nd M

echanized Unit of the 1st Mechanized Platoon, 2ndMechanized Company, 1st Mechanized Battalion, 28th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, holding the rank of Sergeant.

He was born on December 21, 1981, in the urban-type settlement of Tarutyne, Odesa Region. A Ukrainian national, he graduated from the General Education School of Tarutyne (now the Tarutyne Educational Complex General Education School of I–III Stages – Lyceum – Preschool Institution).

From November 2, 2000, to May 24, 2002, Oleksandr Topal served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, conscripted by the Artzyz District Military Commissariat of the Odesa region. From November 2000 to November 2001, he served as a driver mechanic. From November 2001 to May 2002, he was the commander of the automobile unit of the 467th Automobile Repair Shop of the Air Defense Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit A4314, located in Nerubaiske Village, Biliaiivka District, Odesa Region). This repair shop is now known as the Base for Repair, Diagnostics, and Storage of Special and Automotive Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit A3358-VI, also in Nerubaiske Village, Biliaiivka District, Odesa Region).

Starting in 2002, he served in the Tarutyne District Police Office, then went on to work in private organizations.

He rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on November 19, 2013, when he was conscripted through the Artzyz–Tarutyne Joint District Military Commissariat in the Odesa Region. Since November 19, 2013, Oleksandr Topal served under contract as a Combat Vehicle Commander – leading the 2nd Mechanized Section of the 1st Mechanized Platoon, 2nd Mechanized Company, 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 28th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit A0666, located in the urban-type settlement of Chornomorske, Komintern District—renamed Lyman District in 2016 — of the Odesa Region).

From January 27 to March 7, 2014, he underwent training at the 184th Training Center of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi Land Forces Academy (now the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Land Forces Academy; military unit A2615, located in Starychi Village, Yavoriv District, Lviv Region). There, he acquired the military specialty of ‘driver mechanic ВОС-121259А.

Since June 2014, he has been participating in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine.

On August 16, 2014, Sergeant Topal was killed during a multiple-launch rocket system attack on his brigade’s positions near the village of Blahodatne in the Avmrosiivka District, Donetsk Region. Five other servicemen were also killed in the attack.

On August 22, 2014, he was laid to rest in the Tarutyne Cemetery, Odesa Region.

Oleksandr Topal was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Grade, on May 15, 2015.

He is survived by his mother, wife, daughter, and son.

On August 16, 2015, in Tarutyne, a memorial plaque honoring Oleksandr Topal was unveiled on the building of the Tarutyne Educational Complex General Education School of I–III Stages – Lyceum – Preschool Institution (1 Sportyvna Street), where he had studied.