Maksym H. Shvets

32-year-old paratrooper Maksym Shvets (call sign "Black") died on October 31, 2023 near the village of Yelyzavetivka in the Donetsk region. During enemy artillery shelling, he received fatal injuries while shielding two of his comrades and saving their lives at the cost of his own. Maksym was born in the city of Hulyaipole, Zaporizhia region. He lived in the settlement of Stulneve. He graduated from the Melitopol Vocational Lyceum of Railway Transport, where he obtained the profession of a mechanic. For some time, he worked on the railway, then at the Zaporizhia Metallurgical Plant. He was fond of sports and was in good physical shape. In his free time, he made furniture to order using the carriage tufting technique, having set up a workshop for himself. During the full-scale invasion, the man joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He fought in the Donetsk region as part of the 79th Separate Airmobile Brigade. He held the position of a medic. "It is difficult to speak of a loved one in the past tense. Our Hero! You have finished your earthly journey, giving your life for peace and tranquility on our land. Your courage will remain in our hearts forever, and the bright memory of you will live on in us, regardless of time. Rest in peace, our hero!" - wrote the deceased's cousin, Olena Zhuravlova. The defender was buried at the Kushuhum cemetery in the Zaporizhia region. He is survived by his mother, wife, son, other relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms. Posthumously, soldier Maksym Shvets was awarded the Order of Courage III degree.