Senior Lieutenant Ihor Dubyk, aka "Duba," was killed on October 11, 2023, during a combat mission in the village of Yurivka, near Toretsk. He was 60 years old.
Ihor was born in Mariupol, attended school No. 60, and graduated from the Azov State Technical University, specializing in "Electrical Supply for Industrial Enterprises," as well as from the military department with a specialization in "Infantry Platoon Commander."
From 1985 to 1986, he worked as the Chief Energy Engineer at the Precast Concrete Products Plant of the "Kryvorizhbud" trust. Until 1995, he worked at the Zhdanivskyi Plant for Technological Equipment for the Medical Industry, and later as the Chief Engineer at LLC "Azov-Dnipro-Kom."
In 1999, Ihor started his own business in his hometown — producing furniture and other woodworking products. He played football and chess, professionally practiced freestyle wrestling, and was a candidate for Master of Sports.
According to his wife, Oksana, he was extremely knowledgeable and had amassed a large library at home. He had a passion for numismatics, gardening, and beekeeping.
"Ihor was a very attentive and caring husband and father. I love chocolate, so he always made sure we had a bar at home. I was the first to taste the aromatic berries, juicy fruits, and vegetables that Ihor grew with such care," his wife shared.
"He always said 'My little one,'" his daughter, Svitlana, recalled. "He knew how to support us in difficult times and never gave up. One of his favorite phrases was: 'Everything will be fine.' And, of course, there are countless childhood memories of how my father generously gave us his love and warmth — how he tucked us in at night, how he taught me chess, and how we did morning exercises together."
His son, Dmytro, often recalls the heart-to-heart talks with his father. With great love, gratitude, and an unspoken pain, he cherishes all the memories related to his father.
Ihor was one of the founders of the public organization "Mariupol Brotherhood" and a co-organizer of rallies against Russian aggression. He also participated in the 2014 parliamentary elections as a majoritarian candidate from the 58th district.
Ihor had been fighting in the war since 2014. As part of the then-battalion "Azov," he helped liberate his hometown, Mariupol, and participated in the Shyrokyne operation. He left the unit in 2016 and became the head of the public organization "Patriot." He was elected head of the Veterans Union for Donetsk region at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
At the start of the full-scale invasion, Ihor Dubyk joined the local Territorial Defense and fought against Russian occupiers on the Left Bank of Mariupol.
"I lost contact with my husband at the end of February," said his wife. "A month later, together with my father, we left Mariupol — first on foot and then drove through 12 checkpoints with a stranger. I managed to take only a few things from our house, including a family photo and Ihor's awards."
After suffering severe shrapnel wounds to both legs, Ihor ended up in a hospital at the Azovstal Metallurgical Plant. On May 18, 2022, he, along with other Ukrainian defenders, was taken prisoner. The Mariupol defender endured torture at the Olenivka prison, as well as in the prisons of Belgorod and Kursk. Ihor Dubyk returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange on December 1, 2022, after spending 200 days in captivity.
In captivity, Ihor lost more than 30 kg. According to Oksana, he weighed only 42 kg, despite his normal weight being 75 kg and his height 180 cm. After the concussion and torture, his memory significantly deteriorated. After his return, he also had surgery to remove hernias. His legs, though healing somewhat satisfactorily, still contained shrapnel in his knees, which caused him to limp. After three months of rehabilitation, Ihor returned to his comrades, despite not being fully recovered.
"Duba" continued fighting in the ranks of the 109th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Regional Defense Command "East" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He could have chosen not to return to the military, as he was already 60 years old. He often remembered how, during one of his interrogations, an FSB officer said that the war would eventually reach even our grandchildren. Ihor wanted to resist the Russians so that they would never come to us with war again. "I don’t want my grandchildren to fight," he would say.
"The war took the love of my life," his wife said. "You will forever remain in my heart. The best man in the world — brave and courageous."
During his life, Ihor Dubyk was awarded the honorary badge "Mariupol. We Defended – We Won," a personalized knife, and a certificate of valor, heroism, and significant contribution to the defense.
The hero was laid to rest on August 23, 2024, at the Garrison Church in Lviv. Ihor was buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, two children, and grandchildren.
At 9:00 a.m. — a nationwide moment of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk region.