Senior Lieutenant Maksym Danylov, call sign Danya, was killed on March 16, 2022, during a combat mission in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast. The warrior was 42 years old.
Maksym was born in Kramatorsk. He obtained a degree in engineering economics from a local institute of economics and humanities. He loved animals deeply and befriended all of them: birds, reptiles, turtles, hedgehogs, dogs, cats, lizards, foxes, and horses. He also enjoyed gathering mushrooms.
"The forest was his element. The mountains and the sea were his relatives; they spoke the same language," shared his mother, Tetiana.
Maksym joined the war among the very first: initially, he served in the "Donbas" volunteer battalion, and starting April 30, 2015, he signed a contract with "Azov."
"He always carefully chose his comrades whom he trusted with his thoughts and views. His passion for military technology, types of weapons, and sports proved very useful during combat missions. He willingly passed on his experience to his brothers-in-arms and friends, even when he was on short home leave," Tetiana recalled. "Once, answering my question about his service, he said: 'I cannot tell the truth, and I will not tell a lie.' From that moment on, we never discussed that topic again."
When the full-scale invasion began, Maksym was at his unit's base. He communicated with his mother only through SMS and short videos. The warrior managed to call twice—on March 7 and March 13. During the last conversation, which lasted a few minutes, he seemed to be saying goodbye: "Everything is fine with me, don't worry, we will definitely win. Take care of yourself," he told his mother. That day, Maksym destroyed a Russian "Tigr" armored vehicle using an RPG-7 handheld anti-tank grenade launcher.
"Danya was a maximally positive, open, sincere, and very pleasant person. He was dedicated and loyal to the unit, the cause, and the idea," shared his brother-in-arms, Stok. "An excellent company commander. And Danya shot amazingly well with an RPG. He was a friend of our reconnaissance platoon. Therefore, when the fighting in Mariupol began and combat special training fighters were dispatched to units, Danya joined us. He went out to positions, burned enemy armor, and shot at adversaries. And he did all of this with a smile on his face. He was killed during a breakthrough of a column of Russian vehicles: Danya was fatally wounded by a shrapnel fragment from a tank shell. His brothers-in-arms evacuated his body, but unfortunately, they were unable to bury him. Danya's death is a great loss of a great person and professional."
During his lifetime, Maksym was awarded the commemorative badge "Defender of Mariupol," the Presidential distinction "For Participation in the ATO," the NGU badge "For Valiant Service," the MIA departmental incentive award "Firearm," and the MIA badge "For Courage in Service," and posthumously—the Order "For Courage," 3rd Class.
"I am truly proud of my courageous, reliable, honest, brave hero, a true warrior and defender of his Motherland! You left very warm memories in the souls of your comrades and acquaintances, who still keep in touch with me. Eternal memory to you, my son, and great hope that we will be able to bury you with honor," said the defender's mother.
As of now, the defender has still not been buried.
He is survived by his mother Tetiana, goddaughter Varvara, her family, as well as other relatives and loved ones. The defender's four-legged friend, an American Staffordshire Terrier named Tit, now lives with his friends in Kramatorsk.
At 9:00 AM—the national minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes Memorial Platform remember the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.