Former Ukraine international Roman Maksymyuk confirmed dead

The football community is mourning the loss of Roman Maksymyuk, a former Ukraine international who has been confirmed dead following 20 months as missing in action. The news was verified through DNA analysis provided by his daughter, Daria, bringing a tragic end to a long search for the veteran midfielder.

Maksymyuk, who was 50 when he went missing, had served as a gunner with the 25th Sicheslav Airborne Brigade after joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022. He disappeared while attempting to break out of encirclement in the Pokrovsk direction of the Donetsk region. His final communication was a phone call to his wife, Vera, on January 30, 2025, where he warned that he might be out of contact for an extended period.

A distinguished career on the pitch

Before his military service, Maksymyuk enjoyed a storied career in professional football. Between 1998 and 2002, he earned five caps for the Ukraine national team. At the club level, he represented several prominent sides including Dynamo Kyiv, Chornomorets, Prykarpattia, and Volyn, though he made his most significant impact at Dnipro, where he played 85 matches.

Following his retirement from the sport in 2011, he remained a respected figure in the game. In a tribute to his memory, the Ukraine national team honored him during a friendly match against Canada on June 7, 2025, by wearing his former Volyn jersey and military jacket.