The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi awarded the Order For Courage of the 3rd grade to Maksym Khitailov in the Decree No. 93/2020 “On Awarding the State Awards of Ukraine”.
The family, friends, group-mates, military comrades and the representatives of the regional military commissariat gathered to honor the memory of the student of the Education and Research Institute of Architecture and Construction. Among the present were Maksym Khitailov’s mother Vita Khitailova, Poltava Regional Military Commissar, participant of military action Dmytro Hubskyi, the Deputy Regional Commissar, participant of military action, Lieutenant Colonel Eduard Borodai, the university academic staff, in particular the mentor of the group in which Maksym Khilaitov studied, Associate Professor of the Department of Construction Technology Liudmyla Bondar, as well as university students.
“To remember those who lost their lives while protecting our country during the military aggression of the Russian Federation, to teach yourself and the youth with the heroic example of Maksym Khitailov’s self-sacrifice is the duty of our generation. The memory of Maksym and his actions will remain not only in his mother’s and relatives’ heart, but also in the commemorative boards, which will forever remind about his act of bravery. I am thankful to the administration of Poltava Polytechnic and its Rector Volodymyr Onyshchenko for preserving the memory of students who gave their lives protecting their homeland!” the Deputy Regional Commissar, participant of military action, Lieutenant Colonel Eduard Borodai said.
The mentor of the group Maksym Khitailov studied in, Liudmyla Bondar, remembered him as a dutiful student: “I have only the best memories about him; he was a sensible, sincere person, a dutiful student, a boy with strong spirit, who protected each of us. It is our duty to honor the memory of the people who gave their lives for Ukraine. Maksym died for his country. We will always remember him, because he is our hero. And heroes never die!”
“Today, our university has opened the second commemorative plaque. This mourning monument will remind us of the war, the heroes who died tragically, of the mother’s and the people’s grief.
“Beside the commemorative board to Dmytro Koriak, the graduate of the former electromechanical faculty of the university, who died on February, 11, 2015, near Shyrokino in Donetsk oblast, we opened another commemorative plaque - to Maksym Khitailov, student of the Education and Research Institute of Architecture and Construction, who died on February, 18, 2020, near Vilnyi in Luhansk oblast, while protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“We all remember Maksym as a kind, sincere, dutiful student, who was excellent in studying, and most importantly he was a devoted patriot of his homeland. He performed his duty to serve to his homeland and protect it. That’s the way he was, and still is, and will be forever in the hearts of everybody who knew him.
“University have added the Hero’s name to the Book of Condolence.
“The whole university is in grief. I am thankful to everyone who came to honor the student’s memory. Maksym’s memory will be honored during every ceremonial event,” Rector of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko said and thanked Maksym’s mother for her son, for being here on this memorable day. Rector also invited Vita Khitailova to a meeting with students in this academic year.
Maksym Khitailov was born on October, 7, 1997, in Velyka Znamianka in Zaporizhzhia oblast. He grew up and lived in Vyrishalne, Poltava oblast. In 2017, Maksym Khitailov graduated from M. V. Hohol Myrhorod Art and Industrial College of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, and entered the university thereafter. He studied on government order in Construction and Civil Engineering (group 301BTp).
Last year, he decided to serve at the Military Forces of Ukraine. He was accepted at contract service in April, 2019 as grenade launcher operator.
He died on February, 18, 2020, near the village Vilnyi in Luhansk oblast, while covering his injured comrades during an attack on the brigade’s observation point.
This was the university’s second loss. It had been five years since the death of Dmytro Koriak. He graduated the university in 2011. He participated in Euromaidan and Poltava Maidan. Later on, he was a volunteer in special purpose body “Azov”, and fought within it until his tragic death on February, 11, 2015.
On July, 15, 2015, the commemorative plaque to Dmytro Koriak was opened at the university facade, and the ex-student’s name and biography was added to the Book of Condolence, which is stored at the National Museum of the History of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”.
From now on, there is a page dedicated to Maksym Khilaitov in the Book of Condolence. University remembers and honors its heroes.
Media Center
of National University
“Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
