AFU Awards Former Vice-President Gazprombank

He was awarded the Golden Cross.

Former vice-president of Gazprombank Igor Volobuev, who went to Ukraine to resist Russian aggression, received the Golden Cross as an award from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“I serve the Ukrainian people!” Volobuev wrote in the Ukrainian language, posting a photo of the medal and diploma on Facebook. He was awarded on July 23 judging by the post.

According to the former top manager of Gazprombank, he was awarded the Golden Cross for successful performance of combat missions, but he did give the details. At the same time, the Golden Cross refers to the insignia of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is awarded to military privates and sergeants.

Volobuev was seriously injured and almost died in April 2023. According to him, a young fellow soldier saved his life by covering the former top manager from the explosion. “The guy was torn apart, my whole back was in his remnants. He was 20 years old. I will find your relatives to bow to them,” he wrote.

On June 1, immediately after the hospital, the former top manager returned to work. He assured that receiving the Golden Cross did not affect him in any way. “I’m not here for awards,” he explained to Rus.Postimees.

Volobuev was born in the Sumy region of Ukraine. His father and younger brother are still living in Akhtyrka. Until the spring of 2022, he was Vice President of Gazprombank. But, as he said, back in 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, he “made a promise to himself” that he would go to war if “Russian tanks come to his Akhtyrka.”

In April 2022, Volobuev left for Kyiv and joined the defence in order to “wash himself off the Russian past.” In response, Gazprombank blocked all of his accounts leaving the former top manager without savings.

Later, Volobuev became a fighter of the Freedom of Russia Legion. Russian citizens are fighting for the independence of Ukraine in its ranks. In June last year, a video appeared on the Legion’s Telegram channel in which Volobuev participated in a shooting range against the background of a white-blue-white flag.

“Dreams come true: I now serve in the Freedom of Russia Legion,” said the former top manager of Gazprombank and called on Russians who are dissatisfied with the current government to follow his example and join the military group. “If you hate the Putin regime and want Russia to become a free, democratic country, then join,” Volobuev said.