Dubrovin graduated from high school, and during World War II he worked as a turner at a defence plant then volunteered for the infantry. From February 1944, he was a submachine gunner in the . From July of the same year, he was an air gunner then a mechanic in the 57th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 221st Air Division of the 16th Air Army of the 1st Belorussian Front. He participated in the Belarusian, Vistula–Oder, , East Prussian and Berlin operations. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of senior sergeant. He was awarded an order and medals.
