WASHINGTON, November 5. /TASS/. Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, paid tribute to fallen field engineer Andrey Vedernikov during a White House event on Thursday, honoring a man who gave his life as part of the October 30 humanitarian mission in Alyoshki in the Kherson Region.

"Today we also honor those who sacrificed their lives. We remember Russian military field engineer sergeant Andrey Vedernikov, who died in this operation to ensure its success. Our thoughts are with his wife, two children, and family," he said at an event attended by First Lady Melania Trump and Russia’s human rights ombudswoman Yana Lantratova.

Vedernikov, part of the 98th Guards Airborne Division, died while doing mine-clearing work on the roads leading to Alyoshki. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, he was fatally wounded when an explosive device dropped by a Ukrainian drone detonated as he approached it.

Earlier, Russia and Ukraine with the assistance of the first Lady of the United States, installed a ceasefire in Alyoshki to ensure the humanitarian operation. From 4:00 a.m. Moscow time (1:00 a.m. GMT) on October 27, Russia imposed a regime of silence in the Kherson direction to prepare for the humanitarian operation. The mission was conducted on October 30: residents received several dozen tons of humanitarian aid -- food, hygiene products, fuel for generators, and other essential items, Lantratova said. Everyone who wished to leave did so freely, both for other regions of Russia and for Ukraine.