In memory of Ukrainian soldier Maksym Yemets (Yenot)

Maksym Yemets, a Ukrainian warrior—steadfast in battle, responsible for the lives of his subordinates and comrades, who risked his life dozens of times in the fiercest combat zones, sharp-minded, fearless not only before the enemy but also before generals, he served not for rank or position, but for his conscience. He was killed under fire near Pokrovsk on February 4.

I am honoured to be his friend.

Maksym was born on 21 September 1994 in Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. He studied at a boarding gymnasium and later at the Ivano-Frankivsk Financial and Commercial College. However, in his adult life, Maksym chose the path of a soldier—on 4 August 2014, he enlisted in the 54th Reconnaissance Battalion.

During his service, he completed officer training at the Odesa Military Academy. He served as a platoon commander in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, later became an infantry company commander in the 24th Mechanized Brigade, and then an operations duty officer in the current combat operations section of the 24th SMB (Separate Mechanized Brigade).

As the commander of the 24th Brigade’s reconnaissance company, he faced the full-scale war head-on, enduring the brutal battles in Popasna.

On 1 June 2022, Maksym was appointed commander of a motorized infantry battalion in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, which was already engaged in fierce battles in Sievierodonetsk and found itself in a critical situation. At that time, I was there as well, and we were introduced over the phone by Andrii Boiechko.

The Ukrainian command did not concentrate sufficient forces for the defense of Sievierodonetsk, as a result, the enemy swiftly seized half of the city, and only then were nearby troops hastily deployed—including the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade’s motorized infantry battalion. They were forced to engage in a meeting battle without any prior preparation, without reconnaissance, attacking positions that had long been occupied by the enemy—just as reserves are often used in our army. Amidst this chaos, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine unexpectedly appointed General V. Zubanych to command the defense of Sievierodonetsk, despite his complete lack of understanding of the operational situation and the capabilities of the engaged forces. Yemets inherited a battalion that was already severely disorganized, had suffered heavy losses, and had lost its combat effectiveness. He could not perform miracles but tried to execute unrealistic orders in a way that would preserve the lives of his personnel, all while providing honest reports on the actual situation—because he was there, on the ground, with his troops. As a result, Maksym served as battalion commander for only six weeks before being removed from his position. Zubanych made him the scapegoat for the loss of several positions.

After Sievierodonetsk, Yemets transferred to a special operations unit under the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) and finally found his true calling. He took part in continuous high-risk operations across the most intense battlefields: the Balakliia breakthrough and the liberation of Kupiansk, the battles for Soledar and Bakhmut, cross-border raids into Russia, the defense of Avdiivka, Kharkiv, Pokrovsk... Maksym was always focused on high-quality operational planning, advanced technological warfare, and the effective destruction of the enemy while completing assigned missions. He was distinguished by boundless energy—always on the front lines to assess the battlefield firsthand, constantly moving between headquarters to coordinate joint operations, he knew every commander and every unit operating in his direction.

I was impressed that in critical situations, he was willing to clash with some of his superiors for the sake of his subordinates. For example, in addition to Zubanich, he also had a conflict with General Bohomolov. "Well, let him be offended. I didn't do it for myself, but because I am responsible for completing the mission and for our people. They won’t pull me out of the war—maybe they’ll reduce me in rank but I don’t care about that. What matters more to me is being able to look people in the eye honestly."

In May 2024, Maksym played a key role in stopping the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, defending Starytsia together with units of the 42nd Mechanized Brigade. In a difficult situation, the Russian group was defeated, and the DIU played a crucial role in those battles.

In December, Maksym arrived in Pokrovsk. He knew the situation inside and out, and his assessments of decisions and commanders were always precise. He was the one who introduced me to the battalion commander of the 155th Mechanized Brigade, who went to storm the forest plantation because there was no one else left. Meanwhile, Maksym stayed at the battalion’s command post and was actually leading the battle.

The purpose of this video was to show the higher command the real issues within the 155th Brigade and on the Pokrovsk flank in general.

It was Maksym who drew attention to the critical situation of the 32nd Mechanised Brigade unit that was surrounded in the village of Shevchenko, and thanks to this, he managed to raise awareness in some headquarters, and the soldiers of the 425th Skala (Rock) Assault Regiment took responsibility and conducted a difficult operation to rescue the surrounded soldiers after three weeks of fighting in the cold.

Yemets was a unique person—he took everything happening in the war deeply to heart, yet at the same time, he was a professional combat commander. He did everything in his power to influence the situation, eliminating the enemy through effective command, intelligence, and coordination. He had a deep understanding of the battlefield and was intolerant of false reports that could put lives at risk. He was a resilient and determined commander who knew how to bring order to chaos, he was unafraid of crises and risks, always facing challenges head-on. He risked his life dozens of times, coming under fire from shells, missiles, Lancets, and aerial bombs.

He possessed rare communication skills, interacting with a vast number of people and drawing energy from these exchanges. I organized several fundraisers for his unit and shared his contact information as a responsible officer.

On 11 March 2024, when his unit was assigned to carry out an operation in Russia that had been exposed by the enemy, Maksym did not remain at headquarters. Instead, under heavy fire, he recorded and sent me a message in case of his death and went with his personnel —because he deeply valued his team. Maksym greatly admired and respected the commander of his Defence Intelligence unit, with whom he had fought in Pokrovsk.

Thank you for your time, for your inspiration, for the happiness of knowing you and for doing what was necessary for victory. I will write, as you asked, about Sievierodonetsk. I will publish your message in case of your death, and I will never forget your compassionate soul—the one that helped save so many lives in this war and eliminate so many of our enemies.

Honour to you, my friend…