Andriy Sobolev

Andriy was born in Melitopol, Zaporizhia region. After school, he obtained a cooking specialty at the Melitopol Vocational Technical School. Later, he graduated from the Melitopol Professional Railway Transport College and became a mechanic for rolling stock repair. In 2008, he graduated from Tavria State Agrotechnological University with a degree in mechanical engineering.

In 2003, Andriy started working on the railway as an electrician at the Melitopol locomotive depot. Eventually, he became a mechanic for rolling stock repair.

His wife Olha recalls: “Andriy was a hardworking, highly educated person, particularly interested in the history of Ukraine. In his free time, he read a lot of documentary literature, paying special attention to the study of Ukraine-Russia relations.” They got married in 2004, welcomed their son Ivan, and in 2020, their daughter Maria was born. “Andriy dedicated all his free time to the children and his favorite hobby—fishing. As a family, we often went to the river to fish and to the forest for mushrooms.”

Andriy was a participant in the Anti-Terrorist Operation as part of the 80th Separate Air Assault Galician Brigade. After returning, he became a member of the NGO “Self-Defense of Melitopol,” helping the families of the fallen.

From the very first days of the war, Andriy volunteered to go to the front. He fought in the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade “Zaporizka Sich” (2nd artillery battery).

He was present at the Azovstal plant. A year and a half after DNA testing, it was confirmed that Andriy had died a hero's death. His remains rest at the Kushuhumivske cemetery near Zaporizhzhia.

41-year-old soldier Andriy Sobolev was killed on April 18, 2022, during combat in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region. For some time, he was considered missing in action.

He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Order of Ukraine “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation” and the Order of “For Courage” of the III degree.

Andriy is survived by his wife Olha, son Ivan, and daughter Maria.

The team at the Melitopol locomotive depot of the regional branch “Dniprovskaya Railway” of JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” deeply mourns the loss of their colleague, soldier Andriy Sobolev. He was a highly educated mechanic, a patriot, an ATO veteran who volunteered to defend the country and heroically fell in the defense of Azovstal in Mariupol. His deep love for Ukraine, family, and dedication to military service is an eternal example. Eternal memory to the Hero!