Maxym Chumak was a Master of Sports of Ukraine in judo and sambo, with many victories at both national and international levels.
A native of Kyiv, Maxym had been involved in sports from a young age. His coaches repeatedly suggested he enroll in a physical education university, but he chose to attend the State Tax University instead. There, he also graduated from the military training department, earning the rank of Junior Lieutenant in the reserves.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, on February 26, Maxym voluntarily enlisted in the Ukrainian National Guard. By the time of his death, he had attained the rank of Lieutenant.
A week before his death, on December 27, 2022, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Courage, III class, by a decree from the President of Ukraine for his personal bravery and dedication in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He had also been slated to receive the Order of Courage, II class, which will be presented posthumously.
Maxym and his comrades became legends in the frontline woods near Kreminna, where they carried out combat missions under extremely harsh conditions, rescuing comrades and inspiring all around them.
But on his way to Svatove, a shell hit the vehicle he was in. Maxym was 38…