Donetsk, Feb 8 - DAN. DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko paid honours to DPR Hero Mikhail Tolstykh (call sign “Givi”) killed in a terrorist attack a year ago. The commemoration ceremony took place in the cemetery where the legendary Somali unit commander had been buried.
“Today, speaking is not necessary, but doing is; we’ve said everything before. This loss cannot be redeemed, but he’s always in our hearts,” Zakharchenko said as he laid flowers to the memorial.
The memorial event gathered some 100 people including servicemen and law-enforcement bodies personnel.
Mikhail Tolstykh was born in Ilovaisk in 1980. He had served in the Ukrainian army and joined DPR militia from the very beginning of the conflict in Donbass. Tolstykh participated in the fighting for Slavyansk, Ilovaisk and Donetsk Airport.
A DPR Hero, holder of two St George Crosses and For Slavyansk Defence medal, Colonel Tolstykh survived several assassination attempts and was wounded several times in combat. He was killed in a terrorist attack at the Somali unit headquarters in Makeyevka on 8 February 2017. *jk