Seaman Andrii Trubin, callsign Rul, was killed during a combat mission on March 23, 2022, in Mariupol while holding back an enemy breakthrough. He was 29 years old forever.
Andrii was born on January 29, 1993, in Mariupol. He studied at School No. 56 and earned a higher education degree from Pryazovskyi State Technical University. He held a master’s degree in electric power engineering, electrical engineering, and electromechanics. He worked at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works.
“He was the life of the party — a generator of ideas, the organizer of get-togethers with friends, always cheerful, showering everyone with jokes, stories, and sarcasm. Andrii loved his family, friends, and animals very much. He took care of a cat at the plant and rescued several kittens from the street. He was passionate about cars and various games. Kind, reliable, never letting anyone down and always ready to help. He loved speed, rally racing, and travel. He was afraid of flying, but overcame that fear for the sake of his family,” his wife Yuliia recalled.
They met in 2015. “Attentive, persistent, funny, and kind. He suggested we start dating in the summer, and by autumn we were already living together. A year later he proposed, and in 2017 we got married. In 2020 our son Lev was born. Andrii chose the name very carefully,” Yuliia shared.
In February 2021, Andrii joined the Maritime Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He served aboard the ship Donbas as an electrician-helmsman. His comrades gave him the callsign Rul (“Helm”) for his reliability, composure, and steady hand. He knew everything about engines, motors, and electricity. The sea suited him, as did military service.
During the siege of Mariupol, Andrii retrieved water, food, and medicine under shelling for his sick son. He was fighting not only the enemy but also for the lives of his loved ones.
“Lev fell ill with tonsillitis in the shelter back then. His temperature reached 38.9°C, and we treated him with whatever we had,” his wife said.
Rul held the defense at Platoon Strongpoint No. 2 “Karbon” in Sector “A”.
“While on duty with a fellow soldier, they were patrolling the area when they spotted the enemy quietly approaching. They reported it by radio, and a serious battle began. They covered their comrades and were killed by a blast wave. It happened just two kilometers from the home where our family lived,” Yuliia said.
Despite constant shelling, the warrior’s body was found and transported to Azovstal. Andrii was buried at a cemetery in the district where he had lived.
“On March 19 we saw each other for the last time; after that Andrii stopped responding. My son and I managed to leave Mariupol. I received confirmation of my husband’s death on April 22. His grave was found by chance by an acquaintance of mine. In the summer, his body was brought to Kyiv during an exchange. A DNA test was conducted and confirmed the match,” Yuliia said.
In November 2022, Andrii was reburied at Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv.
The warrior was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Senior Seaman.
He is survived by his wife, son, mother, and younger brother. His father, Oleksandr, was tortured to death by the enemy while in captivity in 2023.
At 9:00 a.m. — the nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Heroes Memorial platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.