On February 8, on the anniversary of the death of Mikhail Tolstykh, there was a requiem rally in the Donetsk cemetery. It was dedicated to the memory of the DPR Hero, a correspondent of the DPR Official Website reports.
The mourning event was attended by about a thousand people, including chief of the Donetsk Republic Public Movement’s Central Executive Committee Alexey Muratov, Deputy Commander of the Operational Command Colonel Eduard Basurin, mother of the legendary battalion commander Nina Tolstykh and soldiers of the Somalia unit.
The hero’s fellow soldier, Lieutenant Colonel of the Somalia Battalion Sergey Miroshnichenko shared his memories of his commander.
“The battalion was formed thanks to Mikhail Tolstykh. The enemies could not defeat him in open combat, so they committed a terrorist act. With his death, the enemies wanted to undermine our morale, desire for freedom. But the battalion keeps performing combat missions successfully and cohesively. Eternal memory to our commander,” Sergei Miroshnichenko stressed.
Other fellow soldiers of Mikhail Tolstykh, for whom he remains an example of steadfastness and courage, said warm words about their legendary commander during the rally.
The hero’s mother Nina Tolstykh says her son could do a lot more for his country. She expressed gratitude to the DPR leadership and all the countrymen who remember Mikhail and support her.
In turn, chief of the Donetsk Republic Public Movement’s Central Executive Committee Alexey Muratov said, “Despite the fact that three years have passed since the death of the hero, it still pains us to realize that Mikhail Tolstykh is gone. Ukraine dirtily and cunningly takes our best sons. That is how those who could not be defeated on the battlefield die. Mikhail always came to the aid, and the armor of his spirit carried victory. His indestructible spirit will stay with us forever, so we will win. We will achieve our goal and will live in the big family of brotherly peoples of Russia.”
The participants in the rally observed a moment of silence in tribute to the memory of the DPR Hero, then laid flowers at the foot of his monument.
Since the first days of the war, Mikhail Tolstykh rallied to the defense of his Motherland. Since May 2014 he fought in the battles for Slavyansk, then for Ilovaisk and the Donetsk airport, was repeatedly wounded. For his courage and combat feats Mikhail was awarded the title of Hero of the Donetsk People’s Republic, he was awarded a St. Nicholas Order of the 1st and 3rd classes, two St. George’s Crosses, Medals For the Defense of Slavyansk and For the Defense of Ilovaisk. Givi had indisputable authority among his countrymen and his subordinates.