Maksym Dovbyshev

Maksym Dovbyshev was born in the village of Nerudstal in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Since 2020, he worked at the Dnipro Railway in the Pyatykhatsky signaling and communication section as a 3rd class electric gas welder.

Senior electromechanic of the Pyatykhatsky track section, Oleksandr Pashkov, remembers him as a responsible worker and a cheerful, positive person: “Maksym welded connectors to rail circuits, helped maintain the equipment in proper condition. The work is responsible, as safety depends on it. Later, Maxim was called up to serve in the border troops, and he served in Odesa at customs. In our memory, Maxim will remain smiling and sociable. He loved life and cherished each new day. He was always willing to help his colleagues, even if it wasn’t his job. He got along with everyone. Even during his service, he didn’t forget about the team: he called and visited during his leave.”

Maksym was called up for military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in April 2021.

The life of 22-year-old soldier Maksym Dovbyshev was cut short on June 1, 2024, in the vicinity of the village of Viyimka in the Donetsk region.

Maksym's mother, Natalia Oleksandrivna, recalls: “Since the age of 14, my son worked part-time for local farmers and renters to have his own money. He never shied away from work at home—he would cook, chop wood, and weed the potatoes. He was very independent, solving all his problems without parental help, and persistently pursued his goals. He loved learning new things and was eager to live, as if he knew his life would be short. During his conscription, he quickly earned a rank. After his term, he decided to continue his service under contract for at least another five years. He joked that he would serve until his younger brother finished his service. He wanted to take him into his unit to look after him. When he got to the combat zone, he mentioned that he was bored at the checkpoints because he wanted more. He always joked, even when it wasn’t a laughing matter. He reassured me, trying to lift the spirits of his comrades. Only once during a phone call did I hear among his usual jokes that he was tired of the war and how terrifying the situations he had to endure were. I told him: don’t give up, hang in there, son; you’re not the first to fight in our family, and no one has ever let their own down. My husband participated in the ATO in 2014 and was also on the front line in 2022. Now, after illness and prolonged treatment, his unit is deciding his future. Maksym was very sociable, always rushing to help friends and colleagues. He came back from the front on leave and didn’t sit at home for a single day. He wanted to see all his acquaintances. He also decided to buy a car to transport food and other necessary supplies for his unit. He said it was for the guys to make life easier at the front. I sometimes grumbled at Maxim for trying to please everyone. But when he died, I unexpectedly realized how many people of different ages my son had befriended. He was genuinely interested in everyone and could find common ground with each person. Many people came to say goodbye: peers, former teachers, production workers, neighbors, and acquaintances.”

Maksym did not have time to start his own family; he is survived by his parents and younger brother Mykhailo.

The team at the Pyatykhatsky signaling and communication section deeply mourns this irreparable loss and expresses sincere condolences to Maksym Dovbyshev's family. His desire to live, to rejoice in each new day, and to defend his homeland until his last breath is a feat we will always remember. We honor and remember the Hero!