Ruslan I. Petrov (Aslan)

Sergeant Ruslan Petrov (call sign Aslan) was killed on July 8, 2023, while performing a combat mission near the village of Makarivka in the Donetsk region. The defender was 46 years old. Ruslan was born in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Automotive College and the Mining and Electromechanical College of Kryvyi Rih National University, obtaining the profession of a welder. He also studied at Zaporizhzhia National University, majoring in "Organization Manager". He also took various technical courses. He worked as a construction worker, miner, welder, and manager. He had his own business - a small shop. He was engaged in sports and loved to read. In 2017, he decided to leave his usual life and signed a contract for military service in the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He participated in the ATO/JFO in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Then he returned to civilian life. On February 24, 2022, Ruslan took up arms again and began defending Ukraine. He served in the 7th battalion "Arey" of the 129th separate brigade of the territorial defense. He was a senior military officer in the southern direction and an instructor in tactical training. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he liberated the village of Neskuchne in the Donetsk region and raised the state flag there. "The best man, a beloved one who taught me to be happy, to feel loved and protected. He had a strong character, great patriotism and love for his native Motherland. He honorably fulfilled his duty to protect his state and remained faithful to the oath, the Ukrainian people and Ukraine until his last breath. Defending and protecting our right to a safe life, he sacrificed his own, not regretting it. He sacrificed himself for the sake of victory," said the wife of the fallen Hanna. The hero was buried in the Central Cemetery in his native city. Ruslan is survived by his wife, daughter, sister, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms. Posthumously, Sergeant Ruslan Petrov was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.