On Saturday, 14 November, in Lviv the funeral rite and a city-wide farewell ceremony will be held for servicemen Serhiy Maksymov, Dmytro Trofimov and Yuriy Puzhaylo, who gave their lives defending Ukraine from the Russian occupiers. The city authorities call on Lviv residents and visitors to join the ceremony and to refrain from leisure activities at this time.
The farewell will begin at 11:00 in the Garrison Church of Sts Peter and Paul. After the funeral rite, at approximately 11:40, a city-wide ceremony to honour the memory of the fallen soldiers will take place on Rynok Square.
Serhiy Maksymov will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery, in the Field of Honourable Burials No. 87 on Pasichna Street. Dmytro Trofimov and Yuriy Puzhaylo will be laid to rest at Holosko Cemetery, in Field No. 34-V.
During the city farewell ceremonies near the Garrison Church, people traditionally kneel as they see off the fallen defenders, many holding flowers in their hands, while in front of the coffins march servicemen bearing the state flag of Ukraine and the flag of the Armed Forces.
Dmytro Trofimov (21.06.1974 — 05.02.2025) was born in Lviv. He studied at the “Lider” General Secondary School of Levels I–III with various forms of learning in the city of Lviv (formerly Secondary School No. 16), and later qualified as an auto mechanic at the State Educational Institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Design and Construction”. After completing his compulsory military service, he engaged in entrepreneurial activity.
His relatives remember Dmytro as a kind, cheerful and optimistic person who loved travelling, skiing and swimming, holding the title of Candidate for Master of Sport. In 2024 he joined the ranks of the defenders, initially serving in the 1st Halychyna-Volyn Radio-Technical Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and later in the Donetsk sector with the 37th Separate Marine Brigade of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Dmytro Trofimov is survived by two daughters, his partner, aunts, godfather, brothers, sisters, friends and extended family.
Serhiy Maksymov (15.10.1967 — 01.09.2026) was born in the village of Novolazarivka in Mykolaiv Region. He studied at Mykhailivka Primary School, a branch of Tomakivka Lyceum No. 1 of Tomakivka Settlement Council in Dnipropetrovsk Region, and then at the Kazanka Vocational Agrarian Lyceum in Mykolaiv Region. After completing his compulsory military service, he worked as a metallurgist at a private enterprise.
According to his loved ones, Serhiy was upbeat, active and sociable, distinguished by his openness and love of communication. He enjoyed fishing, spending time in nature, skiing and cooking a variety of dishes. With the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he took up arms to defend Ukraine, fighting in the Kursk, Northern Slobozhanske, Kherson and Donetsk sectors as part of the 129th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For his service, Serhiy Maksymov was awarded the President of Ukraine’s distinction “For the Defence of Ukraine”, the distinction of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine — the medal “For Wounds”, the badge “War Veteran” and other military and honorary awards. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Yuriy Puzhaylo (25.10.1977 — 10.11.2026) was a Lviv native. He studied at Lviv Secondary General Education School of Levels I–III No. 7 of Lviv City Council and engaged in entrepreneurial activity.
Those close to him say that Yuriy was kind, sincere and sensitive, always ready to help. He valued family relationships, loved spending time with his loved ones, and was a caring father and patriot. From the first days of Russian aggression he was actively involved in volunteering, and was passionate about cars and mushroom picking.
In 2026, Yuriy Puzhaylo began military service, defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine in the Donetsk sector as part of the 114th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is survived by his mother, wife, two sons, daughter and other family members.
The city farewell ceremony in Lviv is intended to honour the memory of the fallen defenders and to support their families in their time of loss.