Melnik died at the Kitabo-Oron waterfall (Big Irkindinsky waterfall), located in the western part of the
Putorana Nature Reserve, 120 km from
Norilsk, together with the head of the
Ministry of Emergency Situations Yevgeny Zinichev during the scouting of a filming location. Melnik slipped and fell off a cliff into the water. Zinichev died after he dove off the cliff to save Melnik, according to the ministry. Melnik's funeral service was held at the
Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi on 11 September 2021, and he was buried later that day in the village of , where he had lived. ==Filmography==