Dmytro V. Rud (Minsk)

26-year-old intelligence officer Dmytro Rud (call sign Minsk) was killed on January 10, 2023 near the village of Vodiane in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, the soldier sustained fatal injuries as a result of a hostile tank shell hitting his vehicle. Dmytro was born in the village of Mitlyntsi, Vinnytsia region. In 2011, he graduated from Mitlyntsi School. In 2014, he obtained a degree in finance and credit operations at the Bratslavskyi Agroeconomic College of VNAU. In 2019, he graduated from Vinnytsia National Agrarian University with a degree in Finance, Banking and Insurance. After graduating from college, he worked as a teller-cashier at a separate non-balance division of Oschadbank in Vinnytsia. Later, he was transferred to the position of senior teller-cashier for cash operations. On weekends, he would come to his native village to help his grandfather with farming and beekeeping. He was passionate about hunting. From March 2020 to February 2022, he earned a living through farming and fish farming in his native village. In 2016, the man was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He participated in the ATO in the Luhansk region and was awarded the "Defender of the Fatherland" distinction. On February 26, 2022, Dmytro again stood up to defend Ukraine from the occupiers. He served in the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk, holding the position of senior scout - sniper of the 2nd category of the reconnaissance platoon of the reconnaissance company. He defended Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv region, participated in the liberation of the Kherson region, and then went to the Donetsk region. In 2022, Dmytro was awarded the Medal "For Exemplary Service". "Dima was restless, full of energy, cheerful, and smiling with dimples on his cheeks since childhood. He always loved to be first, to be at the center of events, so that nothing would happen without him. He loved sports, singing and dancing. Where Dima was, it was always fun and noisy. He was sincere and fair, with a big open heart. Dima was such an activist even in the war. A Hero of a person. Decent, kind, bright, sensitive, wise, hardworking, and purposeful. Dmytro was not one of those who waited for the country to do something for him, he always tried to do everything for Ukraine himself. Fearless, brave and determined. He never feared death. In an interview with the TV channel "1+1", Dima said: "We are on our own land and we must defend it, we will resist to the last bullet." He was a patriot of his country. He lived by the motto "Who, if not me." He risked his life every day. He was wounded multiple times, but getting back on his feet, he returned to the ranks again. Dima saved not one life, his comrades said. Such people turn the wheel of history. Dmytro loved Ukraine. He fought for Ukraine. He was killed for Ukraine. Faithful to the oath and the people of Ukraine until his last breath," his sister Ivanna said. The defender was buried in his native village. Dmytro is survived by his parents, wife, daughter, sisters, nephew, grandmothers, friends and comrades-in-arms.