Maksym V. Oleksiuk (Makson)

On June 7, 2019, as a result of artillery shelling of the positions of the separate special forces unit "Azov" of the 12th Operational Brigade named after Dmytro Vyshnevetsky of the National Guard of Ukraine, two "Azov" soldiers were killed — Senior Lieutenant Dmytro Pruhlo and Sergeant Maksym Oleksyuk. The so-called Svitlodarsk Arc has remained one of the hottest spots on the front line since the beginning of the undeclared war in the East. Disregarding all agreements, the enemy continues to fuel the conflict in Donbas and carries out provocative artillery shelling of Ukrainian positions daily. Civilians suffer from this, whose lives mean nothing to pro-Russian militants. However, the main target of the separatists remains our servicemen. This was also the case on that terrible night when 10 "Azov" warriors, who miraculously survived that hell, sustained injuries and concussions of varying degrees. For 23-year-old Sergeant Maksym Oleksyuk (call sign Maks), that terrible night became the last… Maksym grew up in Kalynivka, then moved with his parents to Koziatyn. Relatives and classmates recall that Maksym was calm, balanced, and loved sports. He avoided arguments and tried not to quarrel with anyone. He graduated from Koziatyn Secondary School No. 1. Maksym's class teacher Liubov Fedoruk recalls with pain that the young man was always persistent and fair. He tried to achieve everything on his own. "He had good achievements in sports, especially in high jump, and had high willpower qualities. Before the fateful night, Maksym contacted almost all his classmates," she adds. After school, he learned the profession of a driver in Vinnytsia. He was then drafted for compulsory military service in the Mariupol Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, and later continued his service under contract in the ranks of the separate special forces unit "Azov." During 1.5 years of service, he proved to be a responsible serviceman and a sincere friend. "I met Maksym directly at the combat positions. It was in January," says one of Sergeant Oleksyuk's combat comrades. "We started to communicate well. He got along with everyone and made friends. He had many plans for life, particularly he wanted to master military affairs and probably stay in the unit. He didn't hide behind others. After all, there are shellings every day, and no peaceful initiatives work." "Maksym Oleksyuk became a combat comrade for us, a close friend whom we can call a brother. Each of us will remember him with a smile because he was a cheerful guy," says Maksym's friend with the call sign Bilyi. "He was stubborn but kind and smart. One of those fighters who you can't keep on the rear positions. Maksym always wanted to fight to defend the country and defeat the enemies. This is how it happened on that fateful night." The soldier says that Maksym was not supposed to go on combat duty that day, but he expressed a desire to help the guys set up positions. A loyal and brave warrior, Sergeant Maksym Oleksyuk remained devoted to the military cause until his last breath, giving his life for the freedom and independence of his country.