Maksym S. Spivak (Riativnyk)

Defender Maksym Spivak (call sign "Riatyvnyk) was killed on June 30, 2023, near the settlement of Urozhayne in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, the warrior received fatal injuries during enemy artillery shelling. He would have turned 42 years old on July 18. Maksym was born in the city of Smila, Cherkasy region. In 2002, he graduated from the Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety named after the Heroes of Chornobyl. After distribution, he was sent to the city of Dnipro, where he spent the rest of his life. He was an employee of the State Emergency Service, and during his service he was promoted to the rank of captain, holding the position of chief engineer in the department for the organization of fire prevention work at closed facilities. During the full-scale invasion, on March 21, 2022, the man volunteered to defend his native Ukraine. He was a rifleman-assistant to the grenade launcher of the 2nd grenade launcher platoon of the fire support platoon of the 128th separate brigade of territorial defense. During his service, he was awarded a certificate of honor and the medal "For Faithful Service" of the 1st degree. "My father was physically and morally strong. During the war, he took a course and professionally mastered drones. He was offered to stay in the city and train other military personnel to work with UAVs, but he refused and went on to defend his country. Then our meeting was the last, but it showed how courageous a person he was and will remain forever," said Elizaveta Spivak. The warrior was buried in the Alley of Glory of the Zahreblyansky cemetery in his native Smila. Maksym is survived by his mother, brother, wife and daughter.