Ivan I. Zubkov (Krab)

Ivan Ivanovich Zubkov was born on November 1, 1973, in the city of Derazhnya, Khmelnytskyi region. Until 1987, he studied at secondary school No. 2, and in 1991, he graduated from secondary school No. 3 in Derazhnya. In 1991, he entered the Lviv Higher Military-Political School of the Order of the Red Banner. He studied in a company that trained specialists for the Navy. After the liquidation of this unit, he was transferred to the Kyiv Higher Naval School, which he graduated from in 1995. From 1995 to 1998, he served in the 19th Rocket Zaporizhzhia Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov Division of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (now the 19th Separate Rocket Brigade, military unit 33874, in Khmelnytskyi). In 1998, he was discharged into the reserve of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and worked for some time as a commercial director of one of the enterprises in Khmelnytskyi, later becoming a private entrepreneur. In the winter of 2013-2014, he was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity, being present at the capital's Maidan Nezalezhnosti. In August 2014, as a volunteer, he was called up for military service during mobilization and served in the 90th Separate Airborne Battalion of the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade of the High Mobility Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (since the fall of 2014, the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade of the Airborne Forces of Ukraine, military unit field post V1611, in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region). Since November 2014, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine. He was involved in the defense of the international airport "Donetsk." From December 28, 2014, he was at home in Khmelnytskyi on a 10-day leave, after which he immediately returned to the ATO zone. On January 18, 2015, he participated in the operation to unblock the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine defending Donetsk airport. Through decisive actions and skilled leadership of the subordinate personnel, he ensured the breakthrough of terrorist positions, allowing a reserve unit to be introduced into the new terminal to reinforce the defense. During the offensive of Russian-terrorist groups on the airport, which resulted in their consolidation in some of its parts, Senior Lieutenant Zubkov organized a counteroffensive and ensured the restoration of control over the new terminal, organizing the evacuation of the wounded. On January 19, 2015, during the fighting for the airport, he was wounded in the arm but continued to command the defense of the new terminal with a weapon in hand. On January 20, 2015, Senior Lieutenant Zubkov, covering the withdrawal of the unit, died under the rubble due to the explosion of the second floor of the airport by Russian-terrorist groups. Since then, he was considered missing in action. Only in April 2015 was Ivan Zubkov's body identified through DNA testing. On April 30, 2015, he was buried in the cemetery of the city of Derazhnya, Khmelnytskyi region.