Donetsk, Feb 10 – DAN. Civil funeral of DPR Hero Somali unit commander Colonel Mikhail Tolstykh (call sign Givi) killed in the 8 February terrorist attack gathered some 55,000 people in central Donetsk on Friday, DPR administration press service told Donetsk News Agency.
“Today, the Republic is paying last respects to DPR Hero Colonel Mikhail Tolstykh killed in a terrorist attack. Some 55,000 people attended the civil funeral,” the press service said.
The legendary commander was killed in an explosion of a round fired with an infantry man-portable flame-thrower Shmel early on Wednesday. DPR announced a three-day mourning. The republic’s intelligence said Ukrainian secret services were behind the assassination and that Zoryan Shkiryak, an advisor to the Ukrainian interior minister, might be involved. DPR prosecutors initiated criminal proceedings over an act of terror.*jk