Senior Lieutenant Maxim Danilov, nicknamed Danya, died on March 16, 2022, during a combat mission in Mariupol. The soldier was 42 years old.
Maksym was born in Kramatorsk. He studied engineering and economics at the local Institute of Economics and Humanities. He loved animals and was friends with everyone: birds, reptiles, turtles, hedgehogs, dogs, cats, lizards, foxes, and horses. He loved picking mushrooms.
“The forest was his element. The mountains and the sea were his relatives; they spoke the same language,” said his mother, Tetyana.
Maksym was among the first to go to war: he first served in the Donbas volunteer battalion, and on April 30, 2015, he signed a contract with Azov.
“He always carefully chose his comrades, whose opinions and views he trusted. His fascination with military equipment, weapons, and sports came in handy during combat missions. He willingly shared his experience with his brothers-in-arms and comrades, even when he was on short leave at home,“ said Tetyana. ”Once, when I asked him about his service, he replied, ‘I can't tell you the truth, but I won't lie to you. ’ Since then, we never discussed this topic again."
When the full-scale invasion began, Maksym was at his unit's base. He communicated with his mother only via text messages and short videos. The soldier managed to call twice—on March 7 and 13. During the last conversation, which lasted several minutes, the soldier seemed to be saying goodbye: “I’m fine, don’t worry, we will definitely win. Take care of yourself,” he told his mother. That day, Maksym destroyed a Russian Tiger armored vehicle with an RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher.
“Danya was an extremely positive, open, sincere, and very pleasant person. He was devoted and loyal to his unit, his cause, and his ideas,” said his comrade Stok. "He was an excellent company commander. Danya was also an awesome RPG shooter. He was a friend of our reconnaissance platoon. So when the fighting started in Mariupol and combat-trained soldiers were sent to the units, Danya joined us. He went out to the positions, burned enemy equipment, and shot at the enemy. And he did all this with a smile on his face. He was killed during the breakthrough of a column of Russian equipment: Danya was fatally wounded by a fragment from a tank shell. His comrades evacuated his body, but unfortunately, they were unable to bury him. Danya's death is a great loss of a wonderful person and professional."
During his lifetime, Maksym was awarded the commemorative medal “Defender of Mariupol,” the President's award “For Participation in the ATO,” the NGU breastplate “For Valiant Service,” the MIA departmental incentive award “Firearms,” and the Ministry of Internal Affairs badge “For Courage in Service,” and posthumously, the Order “For Courage” III degree.
"I am sincerely proud of my courageous, reliable, honest, brave hero, a true warrior, defender of his homeland! You left very warm memories in the hearts of your comrades and acquaintances, who are still in touch with me. May your memory live on, son, and I sincerely hope that we will be able to bury you with honor," said the defender's mother.
As of June 2025, the defender has not yet been buried.
He is survived by his mother Tetyana, his goddaughter Varvara, her family, and other relatives and loved ones. The defender's four-legged friend, an American Staffordshire Terrier named Tit, now lives with the defender's friends in Kramatorsk.
At 9:00 a.m., there will be a nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Heroes Memorial platform will commemorate the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.