Maksym S. Kiriienko (MS)

27-year-old junior sergeant Maksym Kiriienko (call sign MC) was killed on December 30, 2022 in a battle near the village of Nevske in the Luhansk region. While under enemy fire, he did not leave his combat position at the machine gun and continued to fight. However, he sustained serious injuries and was killed on the spot. Maksym was born in the village of Zidky in the Kharkiv region. His mother was killed early, so the boy was raised by his father, grandmother, and godmother. After school, he graduated from the Kharkiv Vocational School and obtained the profession of a fitter. In 2014, he participated in the ATO in Donbas. He found his love and planned to get married. From the first days of the full-scale war, the man took up arms again to defend his homeland. He became a rifleman in the 209th separate battalion of the territorial defense. "Maksym was a very devoted friend, a good son, a person with a big, kind heart. He was among those who lived the war. In 2014, he went as a volunteer to the ATO, went through several rotations there and received many awards. Our love story lived for 10 years. In 2023, we planned a wedding, but the war took him from me forever. Heroes, unfortunately, die, but they live forever in memory! I love my hero very much!" - said the warrior's beloved Karina. The hero was buried in his native village. Maksym is survived by his father, grandmother, godmother, and fiancée.