Igor “Chernomorets” Chubenko is a fan of the football club “Chernomorets” (Odessa).
Igor Pavlovich Chubenko was born on August 6, 1979 in Odessa. Since childhood, he was interested in football and dreamed of becoming a striker. Parents supported his enthusiasm, and the coaches saw the future of a promising player. In parallel with football, he was engaged in ballroom dancing, the love of which he retained for many years. Creative nature was manifested in the fascination with drawing. Unfortunately, professional sports, as well as dancing, had to be forgotten after a serious injury received in training. But football has forever remained an important part of his life.
For the first time, a devoted fan of “Chernomorets” came to the fan sector in 2016, when he was invited there by a friend. Since then, Igor has become one of the active representatives of the fan movement: he did not miss home matches and accompanied his favorite team on almost all trips.
His love of football and devotion to the Black Sea were for him an island of stability in changing life circumstances. In his 44 years, Igor managed to change the genre of activity more than once. After studying at the seminary in Chernivtsi, he abandoned a career as a clergyman, realizing that his path was different. He mastered new skills, tried many different professions: from work in the resort industry, to a butcher in the atelier.
In 2005, Igor met his future wife Inna, and in December 2006 their daughter Catherine was born. She recalls with warmth how from the age of eight she went with her father to the stadium and knew all the fan “charges”, supported the “Black Sea” with him. Igor instilled in the Don a love of sports - before the war began, they often rode bicycles and roller skates together.
The whole family shared Igor's love for animals, cats and dogs always lived in the house. Even in his youth, Igor was blown away by the idea of creating a shelter for animals, but this dream could not be realized. These and other plans were finally destroyed by the war.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Igor repeatedly came to the military registration and enlistment office with a request to summon him for service. But for reasons of health and age, he was refused. Despite this, he did not stay aside - he put up masking nets, helped to establish fortifications on the Odessa coast, and many times participated in the evacuation of children and elderly people from Kharkov.
On May 10, 2023, Igor finally achieved his feat - he became a private of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mikhail Ostrogradsky. And even on the front line he did not part with the flag of his native football club.
In a short time of service, Igor received the rank of junior sergeant and several certificates. His brothers remember him as a fearless fighter who more than once showed courage in battle. After being wounded in the hospital, he sought to return to his comrades on the front line as soon as possible. And, without betraying himself, immediately after returning to his unit, Igor was the first to volunteer to perform a dangerous combat task during a difficult battle. This task was the last for him.
Igor Chubenko died on August 18, 2023 near the city of Krasnogorovka (Donetsk region). In the memory of loved ones, friends, brothers, he remained a man who lived sincerely, loved his family and homeland, and fought for Ukraine to the end.
Eternal glory to the Hero!
