Maksym Oleksandrovych Kryvtsov (Ukrainian: Максим Олександрович Кривцов; 22 January 1990 – 7 January 2024) was a Ukrainian poet, photographer, public figure, volunteer and soldier. He was a Junior sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,[1] and participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Maksym Kryvtsov | |
|---|---|
| Максим Кривцов | |
 Kryvtsov in 2020 | |
| Born | Maksym Oleksandrovych Kryvtsov 23 January 1990 Rivne, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 7 January 2024 (aged 33) |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Other names | Dali (Далі) |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, soldier |
| Awards | Order of Merit |
Biography
editMaksym Oleksandrovych Kryvtsov was born in Rivne on 22 January 1990.[1] His father was a press salesman, and his mother was a school librarian. He studied at secondary schools #23 and #28 in Rivne. He graduated from the Technical School of Technology and Design in Rivne with a degree in Production of Nonwoven Textile Materials.[2][3]
In 2014, Kryvtsov graduated from the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, where he studied footwear and leather goods design. He worked at the Rivne Factory of Nonwovens, as a sales assistant, assistant atelier master, and SMM manager of the Strokati yenoty project.[2][3]
Kryvtsov was a participant of the Revolution of Dignity.[3] From 2014, he was a volunteer at the frontlines, and was a member of the ATO/JFO. He participated in combat operations as part of the 5th Battalion of the Right Sector (2014–2015), and later as a senior machine gunner in the Rapid Response Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (2016–2019). After demobilization, he worked as a content manager at the YARMIZ Center for Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation of ATO and JFO Participants, and was a copywriter at Veteran Hub.[3]
With the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kryvtsov rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[3] On 7 January 2024, his red cat, to whom he had dedicated the poem below, died along with him.[3][4][5] On 11 January, a farewell service was held at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, and then on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv.[6] He was buried on 12 January in his hometown on the Alley of Heroes at the Nove Cemetery.[7]
Poetry
editKryvtsov wrote poetry since he was a teenager.[2] He was published in collections with works by other authors—"The Book of Love 2.0. Love and War", "Where I am at Home: 112 Poems about Love and War", and "Lullaby of the 21st Century Vol. 1: What Lulls You to Sleep?". Songs based on his poetry have been performed by the Ukrainian band Yurcash —"Dominant Height", "He is in the Armed Forces, She is in the TRO", and "Yellow Scotch".[3] He was fond of photography.[8]
The song 'Yellow Scotch' based on a poem by Maksym Kryvtsov performed by the band 'Yurkesh' sounds in the movie 'Our Kitties'.[3]
In 2023, Kryvtsov published a collection of poetry Virshi z biinytsi, which was recognized as one of the best Ukrainian books of 2023 by PEN Ukraine.[3][9]
My Ginger Tabby
editWhen he falls asleep
and slowly stretches his front legs
he dreams of summer
dreams of an unscathed brick house
dreams of chickens
running around the yard
dreams of children
who treat him to meat pies
my helmet slips out of my hands
falls on the mud
the cat wakes up
squints his eyes
looks around carefully:
yes, they’re his people:
and falls asleep again.
(excerpt translated by Christine Chraibi)[10]
Awards
edit- Order of Merit, 3rd class (22 January 2024, posthumously)[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Skotnikova, Olga (7 January 2024). "Поет і військовий Максим «Далі» Кривцов загинув на фронті" [Poet and soldier Maxim "Dali" Kryvtsov died at the front]. Вечірній Київ [Evening Kyiv] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Kokora, Anna-Lilia (4 November 2020). ""Кохання не зобов'язує до того, чого ти не хочеш"" ["Love doesn't oblige you to do what you don't want"]. gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "На війні за Україну загинув доброволець, поет Максим Кривцов" [During the war for Ukraine, a volunteer, poet Maksym Kryvtsov died]. Новинарня [Newsroom] (in Ukrainian). 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "На фронті загинув український поет Кривцов Максим" [Ukrainian poet Maksym Kryvtsov died at the front]. Букви [Letters] (in Ukrainian). 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Ivanenko, Polina (7 January 2024). ""Непоправна втрата для України": на війні загинув відомий поет" ["Irreparable loss for Ukraine": a famous poet died in the war]. РБК-Україна [RCB-Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Віолетта Карлащук, Влада Прізова (2024-01-11). "У Києві попрощалися з поетом та військовим Максимом «Далі» Кривцовим". Суспільне Новини.
- ^ Анастасія Грунтківська, Надія Кривко (2024-01-12). "«Не знаю, як ми будемо без нього»: у Рівному попрощалися із військовим та поетом Максимом Кривцовим". Суспільне Новини.
- ^ "Максим Кривцов". Платформа пам'яті Меморіал.
- ^ "Найкращі українські книжки 2023 року за версією ПЕН" [The best Ukrainian books of 2023 according to PEN]. Pen Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ Chraibi, Christine (January 8, 2024). "Acclaimed poet killed defending Ukraine".
- ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 22 січня 2024 year № 16/2024 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України з нагоди Дня Соборності України» (in Ukrainian)
Further reading
edit- Korniyenko, Natalya (23 May 2023). "Echoes from the frontline: Maksym Kryvtsov on war, poetry, and why Ukrainian youth give him hope". Chytomo. Retrieved 8 January 2024.