Journalist, Lieutenant of Ukraine's Armed Forces Maxym Medynsky dies fighting Russia

Belgorod City Council and the father of the deceased shared the sad news on Facebook.

In an interview in mid-February Medynsky said that he grew up in a military family in Bolgrad. His father was a military journalist. His mother, a teacher by profession, also served in the Armed Forces. He even wanted to be a paratrooper in childhood.

"I was never afraid of losing my life, I was afraid of losing it somehow stupid. So there was no question: to go to war or not. My country is at war, so I must defend it," said Medynsky.

Belgorod city council said that Maxim Medynsky joined the army in 2014, then returned to civilian life.

"If the active military operations start again, I'll go back to war. I'm ready to do so at any time. I'll deal with work, home issues and go. To be afraid is ok and to worry about family too. But I can't just stay.  How could I? Who should do it then? There is always something to lose. But it's important not only to fear loss, but also to protect what's yours. Unfortunately, the possibility of escalation is not a one-stage situation, but the reality which we live in," he told the reporters in February 2022.

During a full-scale Russian invasion, Medynsky returned to the front and died in battle defending Ukraine against Russian forces.

Belgorod Mahala publication, which Maxym worked with when preparing to enter the Kyiv National University journalism faculty, also expressed its condolences.

"We knew this talented young man very well, he worked with us preparing to enter the Kyiv National University journalism faculty. He was publishing his articles and approaching his dream. He wasn't only a journalist, he became a warrior and a true patriot of Ukraine," the publication noted.