“YENOT”

Maksym was born on 21 September 1994 in the village of Staryi Kosiv, Kosiv District, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. He studied at the Kosiv Gymnasium-Boarding School, and later at the Ivano-Frankivsk Stepan Hranat Financial and Commercial College. As a child, he took part in the military-patriotic organizations UNA–UNSO and “Tryzub” named after Stepan Bandera, and later joined the “Narodnyi Kontrol” movement. He was raised by his mother Nadiia, his grandmother Mariia, and his grandfather Valentyn. In 2014, at the age of nineteen, Maksym joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He first fought in the “Aidar” battalion, and on 4 August of the same year transferred to the 54th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion. In 2018, after completing leadership courses at the Odesa Military Academy, he received the rank of junior lieutenant. In the summer of 2024, he became a student at the Yevhen Berezniak Military-Diplomatic Academy. Over eleven years of service, “YENOT” advanced from soldier to battalion commander and later became a senior officer of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR). His roles included: • volunteer in the “Aidar” battalion; • gunner-operator of the 54th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion; • platoon commander of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelveis”; • infantry company commander of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo; • operational duty officer of the штабу of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade; • commander of a motorized infantry battalion of the 10th Brigade “Edelveis” (from 1 June 2022); • senior officer of a special purpose unit of HUR. Maksym took part in battles for Ilovaisk, Debaltseve, Lysychansk, Shyrokyne, Popasna, Sievierodonetsk, Soledar, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka. His exceptional courage and loyalty to Ukraine inspired his subordinates, who trusted their commander without hesitation. Maksym’s words from one of his few interviews: “Essentially, my entire adult life is war. We are simply doing our job. When life and death are side by side, it is hard — but we must cope.” After being wounded near Debaltseve, he recovered and returned to the ranks, commanding a reconnaissance company of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade and going through the hell of Popasna. On 1 June 2022, he was appointed commander of a motorized infantry battalion of the 10th Brigade “Edelveis”, which fought in Sievierodonetsk. About that period, Maksym spoke in a major interview titled “We are simply being thrown with meat…”. Later, he transferred to a combined-arms unit of HUR, where he planned and conducted risky operations, including: • the liberation of Kharkiv region — the Balakliia breakthrough and the liberation of Kupiansk (2022); • a counteroffensive on the territory of the Russian Federation (2024); • the defense of Kharkiv region (2024) and the village of Starytsia; • operations on the Pokrovsk direction, coordinating the defense of the outskirts of Pokrovsk, Pishchane, and Shevchenko. Thanks to his leadership, Pishchane was liberated. Maksym did not chase awards — above all, he valued people. Still, he was awarded the Order “For Courage”, 3rd Class, the medal “For Military Service to Ukraine”, and posthumously — the medal “Cross of Combat Merits”. Having survived eight wounds, including severe ones in Popasna, Maksym never considered leaving service. Even with a disability status, he remained in formation, believing military duty to be the meaning of life. Beyond service, Maksym wrote poetry — a “voice of the front” and of an immortal nation. His lyrical inspiration blossomed under the influence of his beloved, servicewoman Oksana Rubaniak. Maksym is survived by his daughter Kvitoslava (born November 2019) from a previous marriage. On 4 February 2025, Maksym Yemets was killed during artillery shelling on the Pokrovsk direction while carrying out a combat mission. He left behind an address titled “If I die, take into account all these mistakes” — a message for Ukrainian officers and soldiers. Honor to you, warrior. Your devotion and your poetic word will live on in the hearts of Ukrainians.