Andrii Diakonov was killed on April 11, 2022, in Mariupol. He was evacuating people in an attempt to save their lives when his vehicle came under Russian fire at the intersection of Prymorskyi and Metalurhiv Avenue. The following day, Andrii would have turned 55 years old.
A native of Mariupol, he lived with his family in the Livoberezhnyi District. He was an entrepreneur and headed a company specializing in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. He was also passionate about sports.
In 2019, Andrii ran as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He was well known in Mariupol for his work in construction and restoration. Among his projects were the reconstruction of the former Soyuz Cinema and the city's multifunctional Administrative Services Center, where the historic bas-relief was preserved.
After the full-scale invasion began, Andrii remained in Mariupol, while managing to evacuate his wife and daughters to a safer location.
He is survived by his wife, daughters, and other relatives.
At 9:00 a.m., Ukraine observes the National Minute of Silence in honor of those who lost their lives as a result of Russian aggression.