Nikolai “Cabbage” Maslov is a fan of the football club “Metalurg” (Mariupol).

Nikolai Viktorovich Maslov was born on November 27, 1998 in the city of Mariupol (Donetsk region). He studied at the local school No. 11, after which he received vocational education. Since childhood, he was engaged in judo and kickboxing, was a participant in city competitions. His training reflected that perseverance and discipline that contributed to his development as a person in the future. I was also fond of football, was always a mobile and energetic person, this allowed me to feel free while taking up parkour. He was able to enjoy the spirit of challenge and victory.

In 2013, he came to the fan stand of the main team of the city, which at that time was called “Ilyichovets”. He passionately supported the team at home matches and traveled with his teammates most of the country. Repeatedly stood side by side with other Mariupol fans during football events.

In 2018, “Cabbage” joined the ranks of “Azov”, where at that time there were many of his teammates. Participated in the battles on the Svitlodar arc as part of the artillery calculation. Simultaneously with the military service, he continued his studies in absentia at the Pryazov State Technical University (PDTU). He devoted his free time to training and always had the inspiration to learn something new.

Family and friends remember Mykola as a purposeful, reliable and very tidy person. Sometimes the service required him to be a little strict, but at heart he was responsive and caring. He loved justice and always made sure that everything was fair. And he loved Mariupol very much, advocated for the development and cleanliness of the city. He did not allow himself or anyone from his environment to throw his butt past the urn, saying that everyone should start the change with himself, and only then blame someone. He treated his family with great respect. He was engaged to his beloved Svetlana, with whom they dreamed of creating their own family.

At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Kapusta was in his hometown as a sergeant of the Azov Special Purpose Detachment. The brothers recall the story how during one task, when the defenders of the city needed to clear the area from enemy forces, Nicholas at night put on civilian clothes and went to the apartments “looking for water and food”, thus learning about the whereabouts of not civilians at all.

Even during the harshest bombardment of Mariupol, he found the strength and opportunity to take his relatives to a safe place - one of the bunkers of the Azovstal plant. He received a contusion, but continued to defend his native land and also did not forget to guide his neighbors, whom he helped with food and medicine. Thanks to this, they survived and were evacuated by a joint UN force on May 3, 2022, as were his mother and grandmother.

The next day, on the way to the position, Nikolai Maslov and his group came under enemy artillery fire. The life of the Warrior was interrupted on the 71st day of the defense of Mariupol. He was awarded the orders “For Courage” III degree (17.05.2022, posthumously) and “For Courage” II degree (28.07.2022, posthumously).