Maxim Dernovoy

Maxim was born in Ukraine in 1988. Kyiv was his home – the place he shared with his wife, Lena, and his cat, Baffy. Together, Maxim and Lena dreamed of one day living in New York. He was never able to realize that dream.

When the war came to Ukraine in the spring of 2022, Maxim and his family had to flee to the western part of the country. That time left a deep mark on him. On the morning of April 28, 2022, he died there unexpectedly of a heart attack. He was only 33 years old.

In 2016, Maxim joined us as a designer. Just a few years later, he became Head of Design. Much of what defines Protectstar today – our apps, our colors, the quiet precision of our work – still carries his signature.

Maxim was a man of conviction: direct, clear, courageous. When he believed in an idea, he defended it – not out of vanity, but because he sensed when something was right. He had that rare eye for details others overlooked, and the patience to give those details meaning.

Working with him was a privilege. Learning from him was an honor.