Senior Seaman Maksym Motsevyk died on March 17, 2022, in Mariupol.
On March 3, Russian soldiers fired on the positions of Ukrainian defenders with a tank. Maksym sustained severe injuries. His comrades provided first aid and transported him to a hospital. Later, Russian forces captured that medical facility, and his family was notified of the soldier’s death. Maksym was forever 26 years old.
He was born in the village of Sribne in the Pokrovsk district. From an early age, he was energetic and cheerful. With his fluffy blond hair, people often compared him to a dandelion. He did well in school and played football, earning many awards in competitions.
“Maksym grew up diligent and obedient. He was curious about everything,” said his older brother Oleksandr. “In our native village of Sribne, there was a football field and a sports ground just across the road from our house. That field was where we grew up.”
In 2019, Maksym graduated from Donetsk National Technical University with a degree in mining engineering. The following year, he joined the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He served as a radiometrist on a ship in the 23rd Maritime Guard Detachment. He was very proud to serve in the maritime guard.
His loved ones recall him as a romantic. He dreamed of having a strong family and children. He had planned to get married in June 2022. Before the full-scale invasion began, he introduced his mother Nataliya to his fiancée Svitlana.
When the invasion started, Maksym and his fellow soldiers were stationed on the outskirts of Mariupol. They were among the first to face the enemy's assault. They held the line in the Sea of Azov. Their ship was hit, but Maksym and his comrades managed to survive. He continued fighting on land.
The position he was defending was shelled by an enemy tank. Maksym suffered critical wounds and was taken unconscious to the Regional Intensive Care Hospital. On March 17, the hospital was captured by Russian forces. The next day, his family received confirmation of his death from a doctor.
“My younger brother became a guardian angel for me. Sometimes he visits me in dreams and warns me of trouble. Maksym was also my best friend. He always lived with integrity and finished everything he started,” said Oleksandr.
His comrades remember Maksym as honest and sincere. He was respected and looked up to.
Maksym Motsevyk was posthumously awarded the next military rank of Senior Seaman and received the Order of Courage, 3rd Class.
He is survived by his mother, older brother, and fiancée.
As of June 2025, Maksym’s body has not yet been returned from Mariupol.
At 9:00 AM — a national moment of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes’ Memorial platform honor the residents of Donetsk region killed by Russian forces.