☑️ A memorial plaque honoring Andrii Dmytrovych Hutsal—a graduate of Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, rugby player of the Rugby Club "Polytechnic", Major of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and Hero of Ukraine—has been unveiled in Building No. 19 of Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute.
Andrii Hutsal enrolled at Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute in 1995 at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, now the Faculty of Automation, Industrial Engineering and Ecology. He earned his Specialist degree in 2001 and, during his studies, completed military training and received his first officer’s rank.
🏈 Andrii was one of the leading players of the university’s Rugby Club "Polytechnic". Together with the team, he won multiple Ukrainian championship titles and medals, represented the national team, and was ranked among the top 30 rugby players in Ukraine.
In July 2023, Andrii Hutsal joined the 3rd Luhansk Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He completed international military training in the United Kingdom, underwent combat training, and was deployed to the frontline.
On February 25, 2024, Major Andrii Hutsal was killed near the village of Ivanivske in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region. On that day, he covered the evacuation of his wounded comrades and continued commanding his unit until the very end.
🎖 By Presidential Decree No. 126/2025 of February 26, 2025, Andrii Dmytrovych Hutsal was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Gold Star.
The initiative to install the memorial plaque came from the Rugby Club "Polytechnic" and the Ukrainian rugby community.
📜 The unveiling ceremony was attended by representatives of the administration and student community of Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Rugby Association, the Kyiv City Rugby Federation, the Rugby Club "Polytechnic", university alumni, veterans of Ukrainian rugby, as well as Andrii Hutsal’s family, friends, and fellow service members.
🕯 Eternal memory and glory to Andrii Hutsal—an Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute graduate, athlete, soldier, and Hero of Ukraine. His name will forever remain part of the history of the university, Ukrainian rugby, and the defense of our country.
In the photo: a memorial plaque in honor of the Hero of Ukraine, university graduate Andriy Dmytrovych Hutsal