Ihor P. Rudenko

50-year-old fighter Ihor Rudenko was killed on April 9, 2023 in a battle with the occupiers near the village of Novobakhmutivka in the Donetsk region. He was saving his wounded younger son, also a military man, when he himself received serious injuries. Ihor was born in the village of Zhovten, Odesa region. He finished school there. He was interested in technology from childhood. He served in the army. When he returned, he got married. The couple raised two sons. They lived in the Vinnytsia region. The man worked in construction and repaired equipment. When the full-scale war began, Ihor's son decided to go to the front. The man decided to go with him to protect him, as he told his relatives at the time. That's how Ihor and Renat Rudenko became servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They underwent training, Ihor mastered the profession of a machine gunner. And later, the father and son were already at the forefront as part of the 35th separate brigade of the marine corps named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradskyy. They fought in the Donetsk region. They accepted their first battle near Avdiivka. On April 8, 2023, in the Donetsk region, fierce battles continued in the territories held by the 35th brigade. The next day, the occupiers used tanks and heavy artillery. During one of these shelling, Renat was wounded. Ihor was in the second group, but when he found out about this, he immediately went to his son. He found him and pulled him into shelter. The occupiers detected them with a drone and began a tank attack. Ihor covered his son with his own body. On April 9, Renat turned 21 years old. Instead of congratulations, the father gave his life for him. "At the cost of his own life, Ihor Pylypovych saved his son, with whom he fought and fought for a peaceful future for Ukraine. We share the pain of this irreparable loss and express our sincere condolences to the relatives of the fallen Defender of Ukraine. Eternal memory and glory to the Ukrainian warrior who defended Ukraine and each of us. His heroic feat will live in the memory of future generations," the Illintsi City Council noted. Ihor was buried in the village of Dankovka, Vinnytsia region. He left behind a wife and two sons.