Sniper of Azov fell in battle for Mariupol. Mom still hasn't received her son's body. Let's remember Maxim Obivzenko.

Every day at 9 AM, Ukrainians honor the memory of all those whose lives were taken by the Russian-Ukrainian war. Today, let's remember Maxim Obivzenko.

Sergeant Maxim Obivzenko, known by the nickname Prohib, fell on March 8, 2022, in the city of Mariupol. While performing a combat mission, he sustained fatal injuries. This was reported by 'Glavkom' referring to a message from military unit 3058 of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Maxim was born on January 13, 1994. He studied at local school No. 1 and practiced freestyle wrestling. His coach praised Max's good 'prohib' – a word that the future defender would take as his call sign. He graduated from Odessa Maritime University with a degree in 'shipbuilding engineering.' He knew Ukrainian history well and traveled to Maidan in Lviv as a student.

As Maxim's mother, Svitlana Obivzenko, recounted, during his studies, her son passed his sessions 'automatically.' From his first year, he earned money – he worked in a cafe. He fully supported himself financially, and even provided food for the guys in his room.

'For the New Year, he brought me money. He thanked me for having him work at the recreation center since he was little. I was a cook, and he was my assistant,' Svitlana Obivzenko recalls.

In 2015, Maxim Obivzenko joined the National Guard of Ukraine. From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, he defended Mariupol as part of the special forces brigade 'Azov' of the National Guard – he was a sniper.

'Max was a patriot of his country. Since spring 2014, he volunteered. He bought clothes and items at Pryvoz and brought them to the frontline. He wanted to join the guys when the Donetsk airport was being shelled. But he wasn't allowed: they said that volunteers were also important,' Svitlana Obivzenko recounted. – 'After meeting the Azov fighters, he took the oath on January 14, 2015, in Kyiv. From there, he went to Mariupol. He served in the infantry and later became a sniper in the sniper platoon. At the beginning of the large-scale war, he was in the assault airborne brigade.'

His contract was supposed to end in May 2022. He planned to marry his beloved girlfriend and live in Kyiv. Karina was from Mariupol. Max barely managed to evacuate her and her parents from the city.

February 24 – my birthday, I was visiting my brother in the Brovary district. Early in the morning, we felt the Russian invasion. Max called at 6:30. He was worried about us, although he was already in greater danger. He last called on March 5, and at the end, he added: 'We are strong, we will endure!'. Then communication was lost. I wrote to his comrade, and he replied: 'Prohib ... died on March 8 at 12:15. As long as we live, we will take revenge.' Then we also got a call from the patronage service. They still haven't handed me the body. Max was my only child. He was my pride.'

Maxim Obivzenko was awarded medals 'For the Defense of Ukraine,' 'Shyrokino 2015,' the badge 'For the Liberation of Shyrokino,' as well as the Order 'For Courage' III class (posthumously).

The defender is survived by his mother. His father passed away in 2020.

'Glavkom' joins the moment of silence. We honor the memory of all Ukrainians who died fighting for their homeland. We remember those who died at the hands of Russian aggressors, we light candles in memory, and bow our heads in grief during the nationwide moment of silence, honoring the bright memory of Ukrainian citizens who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the state: all soldiers, civilians, and children, all who died in the fight against the Russian occupiers and as a result of the hostile military's attack on Ukrainian cities and villages.