In times of peace, he coached children, and in times of war, he gave his life for them. While defending Ukraine from Russian invaders, football coach Maxym Kaminskyi lost his life.
He was born on February 14, 1985, in the town of Illintsi in Vinnytsia region. From morning till night in his childhood, he was immersed in the sports hall – he became the Ukrainian champion in children’s football and was also a champion and multiple prizewinner in amateur football in Odesa and Vinnytsia regions. His passion for sports played a decisive role in choosing his higher education. He graduated from Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University, earning a degree in physical education. From 2003 to 2015, he worked as a coach at Illintsi Youth Sports School, where his trainees were frequent winners and prizewinners of regional competitions.
The war entered Maxym’s life long before the full-scale invasion. Despite awaiting his firstborn with his wife in 2014, he decided to participate in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). When his son Vladyslav was born, the new father was granted a few days off.
After demobilization in 2015, he and his fellow servicemen founded the public organization “Union of ATO Participants and Veterans of Other Combat Actions,” which Maxym led for two years.
After February 24, 2022, he returned to service in the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, where he served as a scout. The last time he communicated with his wife was on St. Nicholas Day, December 19, telling her he was heading for a mission. On December 21, 2022, during a combat encounter near the village of Nevelske in Donetsk region, a fragment struck under his helmet. The injury was fatal.
In his memory, a football tournament was held at the city stadium in his hometown. The winner’s trophy and commemorative statues were presented to the winning teams by his coach, Petro Demyda, and his wife, Svitlana. Relatives and friends have vowed to hold this tournament annually.