Vasyl Ivanovych Zubanych (Ukrainian: Василь Іванович Зубанич; born 9 February 1983) is a brigadier general in the Ukrainian Ground Forces and a Hero of Ukraine. Zubanych was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine for his leadership of 15th Separate Mountain Battalion of the 128th Mountain Brigade in the fighting for Luhansk International Airport and the Battle of Debaltseve.[1] In late 2015, he became the commander of the 10th Mountain Brigade.[2]
Vasyl Ivanovych Zubanych | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Василь Іванович Зубанич |
| Born | 9 February 1983 Holyatyn, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Service/ | Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Years of service | 2000–present |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Commands held | 10th Mountain Brigade |
| Battles/wars | War in Donbass |
| Awards |  Medal For Military Service to Ukraine |
Early life edit
Zubanych was born on 9 February 1983 in the village of Holyatyn in Zakarpattia Oblast.[1]
Military service edit
Zubanych joined the Ukrainian Ground Forces in 2000 and graduated from the Odesa Institute of Land Forces. He was initially posted to the 24th Mechanized Brigade.[3]
Zubanych became a company commander in the 15th Separate Mountain Battalion of the 128th Mechanized Brigade. On 6 December 2012, Zubanych was awarded the Medal For Military Service to Ukraine.[1][4] He later became battalion chief of staff. He became commander of the battalion on 31 December 2013. From May 2014, he fought in the War in Donbass. Zubanych fought in battles in Novoannovku, Nyzhne Teple, Luhansk village, Makarove, and Shchastia.[5] He served at mobile checkpoints, escorting supplies and convoys. Zubanych's positions were repeatedly shelled and attacked by separatists. While leading an assault group at the Luhansk Airport to cover the retreat of Ukrainian troops from an encirclement, Zubanych was wounded by shrapnel and also shot but continued to lead the unit and refused hospitalization.[3] In November 2014, he fought in the Battle of Debaltseve. His battalion held Chornukhyne, Nikishynomu, Ridkodubi, Kamyantsi, and other points in the Debaltseve salient despite significant losses.[6] The battalion was constantly under fire from BM-27 Uragans, BM-21 Grads, artillery, and mortars.[7] On 23 March 2015, Zubanych was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine for his leadership.[1][8]
In September 2015, Zubanych became the commander of the newly formed 10th Mountain Brigade in Kolomyia.[2] The Luhansk People's Republic accused Zubanych of war crimes in January 2016.[9]
Personal life edit
Zubanych is married.[8]
Awards edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Зубанич Василь Іванович" [Zubanych Vasyl Ivanovich]. ukrgeroes.narod.ru (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- ^ a b "На Прикарпатті створять нову гірську штурмову бригаду – Народна армія" [In the mountainous Carpathian region will create new assault brigade]. na.mil.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Narodna armiya. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ a b Vasylenko, Oleksandra (7 September 2015). "Вибір Героя" [Selection of a Hero]. mil.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Про відзначення державними нагородами України" [Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 683/2012: On awarding state awards] (in Ukrainian). 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ "Виходець з Міжгірщини, Герой України Василь Зубанич очолив новостворену гірсько-штурмову бригаду" [A native of Mizhhirya, Hero of Ukraine Vasyl Zubanych leads the new mountain-assault brigade] (in Ukrainian). Mizhhirya Raion Administration. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Людина тижня. Василь Зубанич" [Man of the week: Vasyl Zubanych]. report.if.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ Prokopenko, Olha (9 February 2016). "Іменинник мріє про мир" [Birthday dreams of peace]. Uryadovyy kuryer (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ a b Vasylenko, Oleksandra (August 2015). "Selection of a Hero" [Selection of a Hero] (PDF). Viysko Ukrainy (in Ukrainian). pp. 20–23. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ "Зубанич Василий Иванович" [Zubanych Vasily Ivanovich] (in Russian). News Agency of the Luhansk People's Republic. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ "Про присвоєння В. Зубаничу звання Герой України". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-07-14.