Introducing the Maksym Kryvtsov Youth Poetry Award
The city of Rivne has established a new poetry prize dedicated to the memory of Maksym Kryvtsov, a Hero of Ukraine, aimed at supporting emerging poets aged 35 and under. This initiative was approved by the Rivne City Council on October 22, 2026. The award was initiated by the city’s Department of Culture and Tourism, with active involvement from Kateryna Pryimak, leader of the 'Veteranka' veterans movement. The inaugural award ceremony is scheduled for January 22, 2027.
Competition Entry Details
Applications will be accepted from December 1 to December 31, 2026. Funding for the prize will come from the budget of the Rivne city territorial community, with the amount set annually based on the approved budget. Winners are required to allocate at least half of their monetary prize toward publishing a poetry collection, and 10% of the print run must be donated to local community libraries.
Eligible participants include poets who live, study, or work within the community. Submissions can be single-language collections in Ukrainian or bilingual volumes where Ukrainian is the primary language and the second language is any except Russian. Applications must include:
- an artistic biography of the author;
- a minimum of two professional literary reviews;
- a detailed budget plan for the publication.
Candidates may be nominated by creative unions, educational and cultural institutions, civic organizations, government bodies, or may self-nominate.
The winner will be selected by January 22—Maksym Kryvtsov’s birthday—by a special committee composed of writers, literary scholars, cultural figures, and representatives from educational, cultural, and public organizations. The prize will be awarded annually to one author and cannot be won more than once. It may also be awarded posthumously to the recipient’s family or legal representatives.
The concept for the award was developed in consultation with Kryvtsov’s parents. Kateryna Pryimak emphasized that the prize focuses on young poets because supporting emerging voices was a cause close to Kryvtsov’s heart. The main goal is to facilitate the publication of new poetry collections. Should no suitable candidates be found, the committee reserves the right to withhold the prize in any given year.
The Legacy of Maksym Kryvtsov
Born in Rivne on January 22, 1990, Maksym Kryvtsov died at the age of 33 on January 7, 2024. He actively participated in the 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2014. Following his military service, he worked at the Rehabilitation Center for ATO and JFO participants and the Veteran Hub. He was also a volunteer with the 'Right Sector' and fought with the 'Da Vinci Wolves' unit. After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Kryvtsov returned to the front lines.
In October 2023, his poetry collection 'Poems from the Trench' was published by Nash Format and was recognized by PEN Ukraine as one of the best books of the year. The band Yurcash performs songs based on Kryvtsov’s poetry, including 'Yellow Tape,' which was featured in the 2020 film 'Our Cats.' Maksym Kryvtsov’s funeral took place in Kyiv on January 11, 2024. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star in August 2025.
The establishment of this youth poetry award in Maksym Kryvtsov’s name highlights the ongoing commitment to nurturing literary talent in Ukraine and underscores the value of cultural growth among the younger generation. This prize not only commemorates a remarkable poet and soldier but also encourages young writers to bring their creative projects to life, enriching the cultural fabric of Rivne and the country as a whole. The option to honor recipients posthumously further recognizes the profound impact of those who have sacrificed their lives for Ukraine.