Maksym A. Chomoliak (Maks)

Soldier Maksym Chomoliak was killed on November 9, 2022, near the village of Bolohivka in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region. He sustained fatal injuries during the explosion of a vehicle on an anti-tank mine laid on the route to the platoon stronghold. The hero was 36 years old. Maksym was born in the village of Ruski Komarivtsi in the Transcarpathian region to a family of educators. He studied at the local school and later graduated from the Faculty of Biology at Uzhhorod National University. He worked as a leading specialist at the Transcarpathian Territorial Plant Quarantine Center and in the regional phytosanitary laboratory. According to his relatives, he was serious, intelligent, thoughtful, an excellent specialist, and an extremely kind and just person, sincere, prudent, and a true patriot of Ukraine. He loved nature and children very much, especially his niece Oleksandra, the daughter of his younger brother. Maksym was passionate about tourism. Together with his wife, he conquered all the peaks and meadows of the Carpathians. He was involved in sports, earning a second higher education at the Faculty of Health and Physical Education at UzhNU. He designed and developed sports equipment. His dream was to open his own gym. Even during the war, he found time for training, not only for himself but also involved his comrades in it. During the full-scale invasion, Maksym did not hesitate to change his profession and became a serviceman. He joined the ranks of volunteers and served in the 101st Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of a shooter in the rifle company of the 68th separate battalion. "Maksym was a decent and disciplined comrade. He had a positive charisma, genuinely cared about the platoon's affairs, and helped everyone. He stood out for his responsibility. It was extremely painful to learn about Maksym's death. The day of his death was the morning after he returned from his first leave to his family. We remember and honor him forever," said his comrade Pavlo Velychko. "Maksym was a bright guy, a kind-hearted person with a sincere heart. He greatly respected his comrades and did not want to let any of them down. We will forever remember his positive charisma and energy. With Maksym's death, Ukraine lost a worthy person who loved the world and gave the most precious thing out of love for people," added comrade Vladyslav Turyanytsia. The warrior was buried in his native village. Maksym is survived by his parents, younger brother, wife, as well as other relatives, friends, and comrades.