On 16 October 2013, the National Bank of Ukraine put into circulation the commemorative coin of 5 hryvnia face dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Melitopol Offensive Operation resulting in the breakthrough of the German defensive line Wotan by the Soviet Army, to the event that became the start of defeat of the enemy and liberation of the South-East part of Ukraine together with Crimea from the fascist invaders.

"The events of the World War Two never fail to impress us with the national spiritual strength and the heroic deeds performed by millions of those who defended their Motherland, homes and families. This is precisely why the National Bank of Ukraine keeps up the tradition of striking commemorative coins in commemoration of historical events," noted Head of the Office for Numismatic Products and Marketing Tamara Loshmanova.

She has reminded that the National Bank of Ukraine puts commemorative coins into circulation in a limited mintage to mark the anniversary dates, historical events and today's milestone events.

The coin "Breakthrough of the German Defensive Line Wotan by the Soviet Army and Liberation of Melitopol" of 5 hryvnia face value is made of German silver, quality – “special uncirculated”. The total mintage figure for this coin is 30, 000 pieces. The coin edge is grooved.

On the obverse there are: above - the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine with the inscriptions thereunder: to the left - НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ (National Bank of Ukraine) and to the right - 5/ ГРИВЕНЬ/2013 (5/ hryvnias/2013); in the centre there is depicted a group of soldiers in the course of an attack; to the right thereof is the mark of the National Bank of Ukraine Mint; below there is the inscription ПРОРИВ РАДЯНСЬКИМИ ВІЙСЬКАМИ / НІМЕЦЬКОЇ ЛІНІЇ ОБОРОНИ / ВОТАН (Breakthrough by Soviet Army / in the German defensive line / Wotan).

On the reverse against the mirror-finished background there is depicted the composition: a star with the inscription 70/років (70/years) and a laurel branch; also there are the circumscription ВИЗВОЛЕННЯ МЕЛІТОПОЛЯ ВІД ФАШИСТСЬКИХ ЗАГАРБНИКІВ (Liberation of Melitopol from the fascist invaders) and the legend 1943 (below).

Designers: Anatolii Demianenko, Sviatoslav Ivanenko, Svitlana Dudenko.

Engravers: Anatolii Demianenko, Sviatoslav Ivanenko.

Coins are minted at the Mint of National Bank of Ukraine

In the summer of 1943, the Soviet troops managed to defeat the German troops at the Kursk Salient. Following a broad offensive launched by the Soviet troops near the city of Kursk, Kharkiv was liberated on 23 August 1943. The Soviet troops embarked on a broad offensive, which was aimed at liberating Ukraine completely from the German–Fascist invaders. The run-up to the liberation of the Left-bank Ukraine was the first stage of the plan.

The German military commanders counted on the defensive line "Wotan" built by the Germans in the region of Vasylivka – Tokmak – Molochansk , which ran along the so called Molochansk hills and stretched south as far as 150 kilometers to the Sea of Azov.

The defensive line barred access to the lower reaches of the Dnipro river and the Crimea.

On 22 September 1943, the Soviet troops reached the enemy defensive line on the Molochna river and started preparations for the launch of the Melitopol military operation. The German military commanders strived to hold defensive positions on the Molochna river at all cost.

The Soviet soldiers showed mass heroism in the battles for Melitopol. They inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in terms of troops and military hardware. Thanks to the courageous and brave actions of the Soviet warriors, the city of Melitopol was completely liberated from the invaders in the morning of 23rd October 1943.

Our troops paid a high price for this victory, with the loss of life amounting to 198, 749 people. For their courage and bravery, 79 soldiers were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously.

Source of information: National Bank of Ukraine www.bank.gov.ua