On July 19, Mikhail Tolstykh’s birthday, Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin paid homage to the legendary battalion commander and laid flowers at his tomb.
Colonel Mikhail Tolstykh (nom-de-guerre Givi) was commander of the Somali Battalion. On February 21, 2015, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Among his awards are Medals For the Defense of Slavyansk and For the Defense of Ilovaysk, two St. George’s Crosses.
Mikhail Tolstykh died at the hands of terrorists on February 8, 2017, buried in the Alley of Heroes at the Donetsk Sea Cemetery.