The poetic collection of Maxim Kryvtsov, a Ukrainian soldier and poet who fell in battle, has been published in French translation, according to “Chytomo”.
The book was released on October 16, 2025, by the French publishing house Éditions Bleu et Jaune, which focuses on translations and publishes works by European authors from various countries and languages.
In French, the collection is titled Poèmes de la brèche (“Poems of the Breach”).
“These poems, written directly from the trenches, strike like shrapnel: they wound, illuminate, awaken. They speak of the horrific sufferings and humble dreams of soldiers. They capture the humanity of people, revealing the delicate beauty of life even in the heart of destruction. They leave an indelible mark. This is a literary testament. The book, enriched with photographs, manuscript poems, and QR codes that allow one to hear the author's voice, is a rare testimony that is both intimate and universal”, the annotation states.
The French translation was done by Nicole Dziub, who has Ukrainian roots. She previously worked on the works of authors such as Maria Matios and Artem Chapa.

Who is Maxim Kryvtsov

The poet and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Maxim Kryvtsov, died on January 7, 2024, as a result of artillery shelling in Kharkiv region. He was 33 years old. Kryvtsov participated in the Revolution of Dignity and joined the Armed Forces as a volunteer in 2014.
Later, he worked at the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Center for ATO and JFO participants. After the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, he returned to the front.
At the end of 2023, Maxim Kryvtsov published his collection “Poems from the Trenches”, which was recognized by the Ukrainian PEN as one of the best books of Ukrainian poetry in 2023.
His poems were also included in the poetry collections “Love Book 2.0. Love and War” and “Between Sirens. New War Poems”, published in 2023.
The collection “Poems from the Trenches” sold out in one day after the news of the author's death, prompting the publishing house “Nash Format” to announce a new print run.
On January 11, 2024, farewell ceremonies were held for Maxim in Kyiv, followed by another in his hometown Rivne. The warrior was buried at the Heroes' Alley of the “Novo” cemetery in Rivne.
In August 2025, Maxim Kryvtsov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.