Ivan Zubkov

Ivan Ivanovych Zubkov (Ukrainian: Іван Іванович Зубков; November 1, 1973 – January 20, 2015) was a Ukrainian Airmobile Forces senior lieutenant and a posthumous Hero of Ukraine. He fought in the War in Donbass as a fire support officer and was killed during the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport. Zubkov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Gold Star on June 9, 2015.

Ivan Zubkov
BornNovember 1, 1973
Derazhnia
DiedJanuary 20, 2015(2015-01-20) (aged 41)
Donetsk
Allegiance Ukraine
Service/branchUkrainian Airmobile Forces
Years of service
  • 1995–1998
  • 2014–2015
RankSenior lieutenant
Unit81st Airmobile Brigade
Battles/warsWar in Donbass
Awards

Early life

Zubkov was born on November 1, 1973 in Derazhnia, the son of Antonina and Ivan Zubkov. Between 1987 and 1991 he studied at the city's Secondary School No. 3.[1] He went on to attend the Kyiv Military Naval School, graduating in 1995 and choosing to serve with Ukraine instead of Russia. Zubkov served with the 19th Rocket Division of the 43rd Rocket Army in Khmelnytskyi until he left the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 1998[2] and became a manager at a meat factory. He later founded his own transport business.[3] Zubkov married Irina[4] and had two daughters: Valentina (born 2002) and Sofia (born 2013).[5] During the winter of 2013 to 2014, he participated in the Euromaidan protests against the government of Viktor Yanukovych.[2]

War in Donbass

He joined the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces in late summer 2014, after the War in Donbass began. Zubkov became a deputy fire support company commander in the new 90th Separate Airborne Battalion of the 81st Airmobile Brigade. He fought in the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport from late December 2014. On January 18, 2015, Zubkov participated in the Ukrainian assault to relieve troops trapped in the airport. He led the defense against counterattacks and called in artillery on himself. On January 19 he was wounded, but remained in the new terminal with his men. He helped evacuate wounded soldiers. On the next day, Zubkov was killed while covering his unit's retreat when separatists collapsed the second floor onto them.[2][5] He was buried in Derazhnia on April 30, after his body was found in the rubble.[6][3]

In 2015, Zubkov was awarded the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate's Medal for Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine.[6] Zubkov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Gold Star on June 9, 2015 for his "exceptional courage, heroism and sacrifice, in the defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state, and loyalty to the military oath."[7][3]

Legacy

On August 20, Zubkov was made an honorary citizen of Letychiv,[8] where his parents had moved.[9] Secondary School No. 3 in Derazhnia, where he studied, was named for Zubkov. A memorial plaque was also added to the school building.[1] On December 30, 2015, the 81st Airmobile Brigade's 90th Separate Airmobile Battalion, in which Zubkov had served, was renamed in honor of him.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Меморіальну дошку Героя України Івана Зубкова відкрили в Деражнянській школі" [Memorial plaque at Derazhnia Hero of Ukraine Ivan Zubkov school opened] (in Ukrainian). Derazhnia Raion Administration. September 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  2. "Зубков Іван Іванович" [Zubkov Ivan Ivanovych]. ukrgeroes.narod.ru (in Ukrainian). Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  3. Shevchenko, Daryna (August 13, 2015). "Ukraine's Heroes: Family of fallen 'cyborg' believes in Ukraine's victory despite their grief". Kyiv Post. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  4. Moiseenko, Valentina (August 22, 2015). "Як у Хмельницькому вручили донькам загиблого кіборга "Краба" документи на квартиру" [In Khmelnitsky daughters of deceased Cyborg "Crab" receive documents for apartment]. depo.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  5. "Порошенко присвоил звание Героя Украины старшему лейтенанту Ивану Зубкову (посмертно)" [President posthumously awarded title Hero of Ukraine to Ivan Zubkov]. Censor.net.ua (in Ukrainian). June 10, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  6. Omelyan, Mykhayil (May 1, 2015). "Владика Антоній очолив чин похорону «Кіборга» Івана Івановича Зубкова в м. Дережня" [In Derazhnia, Bishop Antoniy led the funeral rites of "Cyborg" Ivan Ivanovych Zubkov] (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate. Archived from the original on January 3, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  7. "Про присвоєння І. Зубкову звання Герой України | від 09.06.2015 № 318/2015" [Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 318/2015, 09.06.2015: On conferring the title Hero of Ukraine on I. Zubkov]. zakon3.rada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Verkhovna Rada. 9 June 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  8. "Почесні громадяни селища" [Honorary citizens of the village] (in Ukrainian). Letychiv Village Council. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  9. "Кіборга Івана Зубкова поховали у рідній Деражні" [Cyborg Ivan Zubkov buried in native Derazhnia]. Proskuriv (in Ukrainian). Khmelnitsky City Council. May 7, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  10. "President conferred the name of Hero of Ukraine Ivan Zubkov to the 90th battalion of the 81st brigade of the landing troops". President of Ukraine. December 30, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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