Mikhail Tolstykh call sign Givi biography. Kind, generous, strict: Givi through the eyes of his son (photo)

Image copyright VALERY SHARIFULIN/TASS Image caption Mikhail Tolstykh was born in Ilovaisk, Donetsk region and worked at a rope factory before the war

Early on Wednesday morning, in the suburbs of Donetsk, Mikhail Tolstykh, commander of the Donbass separatist “Somalia” battalion, known by his nickname Givi, was killed. His office at the battalion base was shot from a Bumblebee infantry flamethrower. The BBC Russian service asked journalists working in eastern Ukraine to comment on this murder, which the authorities of the self-proclaimed DPR have already called a terrorist attack.

Over the past two years, a number of prominent field commanders of armed groups have been killed in Donbass. None of them died during the fighting with the Ukrainian military.

The so-called “Ministry of Defense” of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” has already said that the Ukrainian authorities were involved in the murder of Tolstykh-Givi and blamed it on the adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zoryan Shkiryak. “I appeal to all Ukrainian authorities and military personnel. You will not shoot us all!” said the head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko.

“At the beginning of 2017: Mikhail Tolstykh, Oleg Anashchenko, Valery Bolotov joined their terrorist brethren, destroyed by the Kremlin masters in 2016 and 2015. Broken cards,” wrote, in turn, Artem Shevchenko, head of the communications department, on Facebook Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Who is Mikhail Tolstykh-Givi, how did he become a participant in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, who could have killed him and what could be the consequences of this murder? The BBC Russian Service asked these questions to two journalists working in Donbass.

Ilya Barabanov, special correspondent for Kommersant Publishing House:

Mikhail Tolstykh, like Arseny Pavlov (call sign "Motorola", commanded the battalion of Donbass separatists "Sparta", died in an explosion in October 2016) became famous and gained fame during the battles for the Donetsk airport, which lasted until January 2015. They acted as the main speakers, the faces of this war for the official Russian media. Everyone had a clear role and role.

Pavlov is an example of a militia, a man from the land who came to help the fraternal people of Donbass. Givi is a native of the local area, a native of Donetsk (although how much of a native remains to be seen). Defends his land and his people.

It is clear that this is not a Ukrainian sabotage group - they have nothing to do with the deaths of commanders in the DPR. There is business, property affairs Ilya Barabanov, special correspondent for Kommersant Publishing House

While the active phase of hostilities was going on, these people were needed. But after the second Minsk, the need for bright commanders sharply disappeared - bureaucracy and brightness are incompatible things. It became clear that only those who are less bright have a chance to survive. So Dremov [Pavel Dremov, call sign Batya, died on December 12, 2015 in a car explosion on the way to his wedding], Batman [Alexander Bednov, former Minister of Defense of the self-proclaimed LPR, killed on January 1 during the shooting of a convoy], Mozgovoy [Alexey Mozgovoy, commander of the Prizrak battalion, died during the shelling of his car on May 23, 2015] - they did not want to integrate into the vertical.

In Donetsk they preferred to negotiate. There was no longer a need for Strelkov [Igor Girkin, former “Minister of Defense” of the DPR, now lives in Moscow], Bezler [Igor Bezler, call sign Bes, former commander of the “Donbass people’s militia”] - they were taken out, taken out of the game. Now there is no one in particular to take out. It is important to remember that after the explosion in which Pavlov died, Tolstoy wanted to escape and take his family to Transnistria.

The question is, why did they decide to get rid of him right now, what happened? It is clear that this is not a Ukrainian sabotage group - they have nothing to do with the deaths of commanders in the DPR. There are business and property matters. There are rumors that he “finished” the plant in Gorlovka - for non-ferrous metals, and sold it to Russia.

As we see the situation escalate, maybe this is an internal conflict. Someone could decide to take advantage of the situation and put pressure on the Russian authorities.

In any case, this, if my memory serves me right, can end the series of killings of commanders. Only the former Vostok commander Khodakovsky [Alexander Khodakovsky, former secretary of the “DPR Security Council”, who later announced his departure to the opposition] remains in Donetsk. By and large, there are no more individuals. If I were him, I would think about leaving Donetsk as quickly as possible.

On the one hand, we constantly hear from official [Russian] propagandists that DPR tanks will soon be in Kiev, and political scientist [Sergei] Markov tells how a Mongolian university called the Donbass army one of the strongest in the world. Then these same people tell us about a mysterious sabotage group, and for some reason this does not cause dissonance in anyone.

But we are in a zone of turbulence, given the tense situation around Avdievka, in the Mariupol direction. The second Minsk agreements will soon be two years old. It became obvious that it would not be possible to fulfill them, even the clause on the exchange of prisoners. Official politicians will sooner or will have to recognize the impracticability, but the alternative to peace agreements can only be a new round of hostilities.

Those who eliminated Mikhail Tolstykh may want to bring the situation to this point.

Illustration copyright Valery Sharifulin/TASS Image caption Mikhail Tolstykh (Givi) and Arseny Pavlov (Motorola) gained fame during the battles for Donetsk airport Alexander Sladkov, special correspondent of VGTRK:

Givi was a famous commander who began his journey from the depths of the Donetsk events. Tall, dark, efficient, fit. Favorite sports: boxing, football. His grandfather, who participated in the Great Patriotic War, had the nickname Givi; He took the same nickname as his call sign here during the war. In himself, he is a lively, sharp, daring, outspoken person who has been interested in the ideas of the “Donbass People’s Republic” and military affairs for the last three years.

First he commanded a company, then a tank battalion, and ended his life as commander of a motorized rifle battalion. His death is associated with being hit by a thermobaric projectile from a rocket-propelled infantry flamethrower "Bumblebee", the volumetric explosion of which burns all living things within 0.4 seconds.

I don’t think that Givi’s death is connected with such a struggle for power. This is all a continuation of the war, which neither the West nor the East can stop in any way Alexander Sladkov, special correspondent of VGTRK

Since he fought against the armed forces of Ukraine, first of all, his death could be beneficial to the armed forces of Ukraine as an enemy of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”. First of all, they are interested.

My point of view is that theses may lie around the Ukrainian sabotage groups that operate in Donetsk. If this is so, then it was done in a meticulous professional manner and cleanly - they did it and left.

The struggle for power takes place here constantly: there were primaries, there were elections - elections of mayors of municipalities. The struggle continues, it is everywhere, it is a legitimate process. I don’t think that Givi’s death is connected with such a struggle for power. This is all a continuation of the war, which neither the West nor the East can stop. All this is war, and everything else is a consequence of this phenomenon.

In fact, the processes are very acute, and they, naturally, should alert not only the residents of Donetsk or Ukraine, but also the residents of Europe and the Russian Federation, because if there is a sabotage war, it will kill people who defend this or that idea in the West , both in Russia and the CIS. This is a very dangerous phenomenon that can very quickly and negatively affect the lives of ordinary people.

I don't think Givi's death is related to the recent escalation in the region. You can’t just jump out like a jack-in-the-box, fire a thermobaric projectile and leave. All these things are prepared carefully, over many months.

In my memory alone, there have been attempts on Givi’s life three times. The last time I saw him was in the spring of 2015 at the Donetsk airport (it was still turbulent there). He said that a sniper shot at him. In the back. That is, the bed was located somewhere in the Donetsk high-rise buildings.

The sabotage groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are really coming to our rear,” the battalion commander of “Somalia” summed up then.

Over the past few months, Givi has had little contact with friends and has practically closed himself off from any contact. I called him two weeks ago when I was in Donetsk.

We are now working at the front, I can’t go to the city, see you next time,” was the last thing I heard from him.

These words contain the entire battalion commander of "Somalia".

Firstly, this is his “work”. Givi had an amazing ability to work. I myself have witnessed more than once when both the head of the DPR Ministry of Defense and Alexander Zakharchenko himself urged him - pale and with huge ditches of insomnia under his eyes: “Boy, take a break.”

But even on the verge of a stroke from nervous overstrain, Givi did not leave the front line.

Here's the second one: "at the front."

Givi was not a staff or cabinet commander. They led their fighters directly on the line of contact. You used to come to the “nine” - that’s what they called one of the objects near the Donetsk airport, from where the area was clearly visible - and to the question “How can I find the battalion commander?” you hear the usual: “Yes, he’s shooting from the “cliff” on the seventh floor.”

You go up to the seventh floor, and Givi is standing there in a bulletproof vest over his naked body with a cigarette in his mouth. Dark paws clutch a large-caliber machine gun, which, due to intense shooting, strives to escape from the hands.

Well, what about the video when, during an impromptu “pressure”, the same “nine” began shelling with “Grads”. At the sound of rocket artillery, all the reporters (and myself included, to be honest) run for cover, but Givi seemed frozen in place with an impenetrable face. They say that these are not rockets at all, but just grasshoppers chattering.

In general, you understand how Givi felt about the war. Passionately and selflessly.

In fact, of course, he was not Georgian. His grandfather is Ossetian, on his mother’s side. The battalion commander's name according to his passport is Mikhail Tolstykh. I found out about this almost by accident, because no one called him anything else than Givi. Everyone joked about this topic - because Mikhail’s appearance really had a pronounced mountain accent. Motorola, his colleague and friend, was especially zealous.

- Greetings, my black brother! - Arsen shouted, coming to Givi in Ilovaisk. There was no smell of racism here; Motorola, as you know, was from Komi by blood; For the front, jokes in this spirit are a vital necessity.

Givi started fighting in Slavyansk. In the 90s, he himself served in the Ukrainian army, in tank forces, so he had experience (later he said that he often had to engage in clashes with former colleagues).

After the Strelkovites lost Yampol (then the militia was commanded by Igor Strelkov), Givi was transferred to another front. In his native Ilovaisk. There he gathered his own detachment from local guys and began to liberate the city inch by inch.

A little later, motor catchers arrived to help the Ilovaisk residents. It was Arsen Pavlov who gave the nickname to the Givin guys - Samolians. In militia slang, this was the name given to those who, by mistake, could open fire in the direction of “their own.”

Times were troubled. Where they were and where they were were determined by inspiration. Givi’s subordinates were so responsible that even the well-recognized Motorola was not allowed through at checkpoints, and sometimes they pulled the gates. It all went from there.

Possessing an extraordinary sense of humor, Givi joked with Motor and named his unit: “Somalia.” It took root.

The Somalis liberated Ilovaisk, Nizhnyaya Krynka, and distinguished themselves during the storming of the Donetsk airport.

Givi himself - along with Batya (Alexander Zakharchenko), Motorola (Arsen Pavlov) and Abkhaz (Ahra Avidzba) - passed into the status of legends of the “Russian spring”.

Mikhail Tolstykh approached security issues, perhaps, even more carefully than his other comrades. I visited him in his office. To get there, you had to overcome four “cordons” where you were examined with partiality, despite your long-standing friendship.

It has not yet been established what kind of explosive device went off in Givi’s office. It could have been an ordinary explosive package; there is a version that they fired at the office from a “Bumblebee” - a rocket-propelled flamethrower. However, in both cases it was necessary to get close enough. This means that it could not have happened without an agent embedded in the structure of the battalion itself.

Such terrorist attacks have been planned for months and do not happen by accident. By removing Motorola, attacking Donetsk once again, brutally killing Givi, Kyiv is demonstrating the real price of the promises made in the international arena.

Mikhail Tolstoy died in his office, Arsen Pavlov in the elevator of a multi-story building - this suggests that for the Ukrainian authorities the real front runs much deeper than the official demarcation line.

The life and death of battalion commander Givi

Military correspondent of "Life" Semyon Pegov - about the commander of the "Somalia" battalion, Mikhail Tolstykh (Givi), who was killed by Ukrainian saboteurs this morning.

*******

The sabotage groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are really coming to our rear,” the battalion commander of “Somalia” summed up then.

Over the past few months, Givi has had little contact with friends and has practically closed himself off from any contact. I called him two weeks ago when I was in Donetsk.

We are now working at the front, I can’t go to the city, see you next time,” was the last thing I heard from him.

These words contain the entire battalion commander of “Somalia”.

Firstly, this is his “work”. Givi had an amazing ability to work. I myself have witnessed more than once when both the head of the DPR Ministry of Defense and Alexander Zakharchenko himself urged him - pale and with huge moats of insomnia under his eyes: “Boy, take a break.”

But even on the verge of a stroke from nervous overstrain, Givi did not leave the front line.

Here's the second one: “at the front.”

Givi was not a staff or cabinet commander. They led their fighters directly on the line of contact. You used to come to the “nine” - that’s what they called one of the objects near the Donetsk airport, from where the area was clearly visible - and to the question “How can I find a battalion commander?” you hear the usual: “Yes, he’s shooting from the “cliff” on the seventh floor.”

In general, you understand how Givi felt about the war. Passionately and selflessly.

Greetings, my black brother! - Arsen shouted, coming to Givi in Ilovaisk. There was no smell of racism here; Motorola, as you know, was from Komi by blood; For the front, jokes in this spirit are a vital necessity.

Possessing an extraordinary sense of humor, Givi joked with Motor and named his unit: “Somalia.” It took root.

The Somalis liberated Ilovaisk, Nizhnyaya Krynka, and distinguished themselves during the storming of the Donetsk airport.

Givi himself - along with Batya (Alexander Zakharchenko), Motorola (Arsen Pavlov) and Abkhaz (Ahra Avidzba) - passed into the status of legends of the “Russian spring”.

_________________

Biography of Mikhail Tolstoy (Givi)

In September 2016, the battalion commander was awarded the rank of Colonel of the DPR.

He was awarded the Order of “Hero of the DPR” (2015) and other awards of the DPR, including two Crosses of St. George and the medal “For the Defense of Slavyansk.”

Mikhail Tolstykh was not married.

________________________

Look:

Last interview with Mikhail Tolstykh -

Mikhail Sergeevich Tolstykh (call sign - "Givi"; July 19, 1980, Ilovaisk, Ukrainian SSR) - commander of the DPR militia with the rank of lieutenant colonel of the DPR army (as of December 2014), who gained fame as a result of the battles for Ilovaisk. The unit he led was called the “Somalia” battalion.

Mikhail Sergeevich Tolstykh
Nickname - Givi
Date of birth July 19, 1980
Place of birth Ilovaisk, Ukrainian SSR, USSR
Affiliation Ukraine DPR
Branch of the Donetsk People's Republic "People's Militia of Donbass"
Years of service Ukraine 1998-2000 Donetsk People's Republic since 2014
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Commanded the Somalia Battalion
Battles/wars Armed conflict in eastern Ukraine
Confrontation in Slavyansk
Battles for Ilovaisk
Fighting for Donetsk airport

"Givi" is a native of the city of Ilovaisk. In 1998-2000 he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at the Desna training center. Military specialty - tank commander. Then he worked as an industrial climber and was a diesel forklift driver at a rope factory.

Since May 2014, Mikhail Tolstykh took part in the battles for Slavyansk. In the summer of 2014, he took part in the battles for Ilovaisk. Since September 2014, he took part in the battles for Donetsk airport.

On October 19, 2014, Mikhail Tolstykh (“Givi”) appealed to the leader of the LDPR, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, with a request to provide the People’s Militia with vehicles for transporting the wounded. On October 28, Zhirinovsky sent a batch of Niva cars to the militia.
On February 16, 2015, it was included in the sanctions list of the European Union.
On March 19, 2015, an assassination attempt was made on Givi. Mikhail was not injured, but his car was damaged.

Nationality of Mikhail Tolstykh ("Givi")

According to Givi, he is Russian and has Georgian roots from his great-grandfather. He took the nickname “Givi” while serving in the Ukrainian army, in honor of his grandfather, who fought during the Great Patriotic War.

Awards of Mikhail Tolstoy ("Givi")

He was awarded various awards of the DPR, including: 2 St. George Crosses and the medal “For the Defense of Slavyansk”.
On February 24, 2015, he was awarded the Order of “Hero of the DPR.”

According to the Novorossiya Segodnya news agency, on March 2, 2015, Givi was awarded the medal “For the Defense of the Civilian Population of Donetsk” by the representative of the Slovak Embassy, Marian Farkas. Previously, Farkas, who is an entrepreneur, sent several humanitarian aid supplies to Donetsk, and claimed that preparations were being made to open the Slovak Embassy on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, Peter Susko, denied this statement, saying that Slovakia does not recognize the independence of the DPR and LPR.

Presence of Mikhail Tolstykh ("Givi") on the Internet

Givi, as he himself and famous people communicating with him have repeatedly stated, is not on social networks.
Cases of fraud have been recorded when people created pages on social networks under the name Givi and asked to donate funds supposedly for the needs of the Donbass militia.

Battalion "Somalia" by Mikhail Tolstykh ("Givi")

A volunteer formation taking part in military operations in the east of Ukraine on the side of the DPR in the defense of Slavyansk, in the battles for Ilovaisk and in the protracted siege and further successful assault on Donetsk airport during heavy fighting in September-October 2014.

However, for ATO participants and people from Donbass, this name evokes completely different associations associated with war, murder, torture and separatism. “Givi” is the call sign of the field commander of one of the terrorist militant groups, who is known in narrow circles as Mikhail Tolstykh. And the fact is that this person has no connections with Georgia at all. Then who is he really, a militant with the call sign "Givi", and what role does he play in the development of separatism and terrorism in eastern Ukraine?

Biographical information

Field commander of the Donetsk separatists Mikhail Tolstykh was born on July 19, 1980 in the city of Ilovaisk, Donetsk region, where he received his secondary technical education. According to official information, in 1998-2000, Mikhail Tolstykh served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, at the Desna training center, in the 92nd regiment. Military specialty - tank commander. According to separatist journalist of English origin Graham Phillips, after the army, Mikhail Tolstykh worked as an industrial climber. Tolstykh himself is not an ethnic Georgian, however, according to Georgian resident Gia Beraya, “Givi’s” great-grandfather was a Georgian, which is why the militant received such a nickname.

Little is known about the family of the militant leader. According to the portal timeua.com, refugees from Ilovaisk about the same age as Mikhail Tolstykh report that, as their parents told them, father “Givi” after another prison term came home to Ilovaisk and did not work anywhere, drank a lot and heavily , and also beat his wife with enviable consistency and methodicality. The portal reports that supposedly “Givi’s” mother also drank for a long time, then simply disappeared without a trace when the future terrorist was barely 18 years old. But this information, disseminated by timeua.com, is denied by other separatists and the militant field commander himself.

As a child, according to refugees from Ilovaisk, Mikhail Tolstykh grew up withdrawn and unsociable. He was not accepted into children's groups because of his sloppiness and cruelty, which he took out on stray animals. At school, for these reasons, the future terrorist was constantly humiliated by high school students, had no friends, and since he did not want to study, he spent most of his time in the outskirts of the city in abandoned houses and buildings, where he found solace in solitude. Donetsk blogger Elkham Abubakirov shared this information with the portal elise.com.ua. According to the blogger, Mikhail Tolstoy was not actually accepted into the army due to obvious speech defects at that time and problems in the field of psychiatry. According to Abubakirov, it is unknown when “Givi” first tried drugs, but his peers claim that it was around 7-8 grades, when Mikhail, persecuted by high school students, fled to the outskirts of the city, which were replete with drug nests and so-called “raspberries” released "prisoners". It was then, the Donetsk blogger claims, that the future “lieutenant colonel” began taking marijuana. According to blogger Abubakirov, Mikhail began drinking alcohol in significant quantities a little later, especially after he was “rejected” by the military commissar for military service. During that period, “Givi” was often seen dead drunk. According to information from a Donetsk blogger, a local businessman nicknamed “Arsen” hired him as a territory cleaner and an assistant car wash at his car service center.

“Arsen” (in the world - Arsen Targonsky), according to the recollections of refugees from Ilovaisk, was a kind man. He treated his employees quite liberally and even helped them when they had problems. He also helped the future “Givi” by arranging for him to live in a dilapidated local hostel on the outskirts of the city. It is reported that “Arsen” provided Mikhail with the most basic things in the form of primitive dishes and clothing.

Around 2008-2009, another event happened in the life of Mikhail Tolstoy. One day, Mikhail was tasked with cleaning the dust in the interior of the new car of the local crime boss “Sani Ryzhego”. “Sanya Red” (aka Alexander Rakhimov) was a cruel man. After serving his prison sentence for rape and returning to Ilovaisk, Rakhimov went into the service of local authorities, who for a long time used him as a “torpedo” and a “bull” during “showdowns.” Having survived and collected capital, “Sanya Ryzhiy” opened a couple of stores and a nightclub (eatery) in Dokuchaevsk. The time will come, and Rakhimov’s disfigured corpse, torn to pieces by stray dogs, will be found in the steppe near Dokuchaevsk; he will first be kidnapped and then brutally killed by unknown militants along with his minor son. According to Elkham Abubakirov, on the day of the murder, the crime boss took his anger out on Mikhail Tolstykh by beating him in a car service station. The blogger reports that in 2011, Mikhail Tolstykh was arrested for stealing a bicycle and placed in a temporary detention center. After that, Abubakirov reports, “Givi” worked for some time as a loader in a store and as a cleaner in a car parking lot.

However, it is difficult to say to what extent this information, presented by Donetsk blogger Elkham Abubakirov, corresponds to reality. Actually, we will be able to find out the truth only after the end of the war and the liberation of Donbass from the united Russian-separatist forces.

According to Nadezhda Savchenko’s lawyer Mark Feygin, Mikhail Tolstykh previously sold vodka. “Yesterday I learned that in a past life “Givi” not only guarded the store, but also sold vodka at the station,” Feigin said.

According to Artem Rodari, a journalist for the militant TV channel "Aurora Studio", citing an interview with Mikhail Tolstykh, "Givi" actually worked as a security guard in a supermarket. The separatist field commander states that, after returning from the army in 2000, he moved to the city of Kremenchug, Poltava region, where, in fact, he worked at a factory. However, due to his mother’s illness, he was subsequently forced to return to Ilovaisk. The last place of work of the field commander before the war was the Khartsyzsk rope plant "Silur", where he worked as a driver of a diesel forklift.

Separatist commander Mikhail Tolstykh is a supporter of the policies of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, claiming that under his tenure he lived better, salaries were paid on time and there was no high level of corruption. "Givi", succumbing to Russian propaganda, believed that Euromaidan was organized by the United States. In his opinion, if the Ukrainian people themselves had done this, and not the mythical “decree of America,” he would have supported these actions. The events on the Maidan, the provocations of the Russian special services in Odessa and Mariupol led Tolstoy to believe in the existence of mythical “fascists” and “juntas”, which were artificially created with the help of mass propaganda of the Russian Federation in order to clash the Ukrainian people of polar political views among themselves. Although, what is noteworthy is that Tolstykh had already joined militant gangs on May 1 in the city of Slavyansk, while the events in Odessa and Mariupol happened on the 2nd and 9th, respectively.

In Slavyansk, he joins an illegal armed group of militants, created by uniting a sabotage group led by Igor Girkin and local separatists. In an occupied city, a militant is subordinate to a terrorist with the call sign "Taran", the commander of the so-called "armored group". From this moment on, Mikhail Tolstykh began his active work in militant gangs. At the same time, the separatist’s mother supported his participation in the bandit formations; his father opposed it, not believing in the victory of the so-called. "DPR".

Terrorist Mikhail Tolstykh does not like to talk about his personal life. And yet, in an interview with one of the local publications, he spoke about his problems.

“I don’t live in virtuality - I live in reality. Being next to me is very dangerous. Even being in the same car with me is also dangerous. There have already been three assassination attempts, and I have no right to risk human lives. As for my personal life, I don’t have one , and I didn’t have any wedding. Now, as I was, I remain a single person. To my great regret, I’ll be honest. My personal life is not working out,” admitted “Givi.”

A journalist asked him about a raucous birthday party at which Tolstoy danced with many girls, which was photographed by Graham Phillips. But “Givi” said that he did not call or offer anything to any of these girls, although, he emphasized, this does not mean that he did not want to do this. In addition, "Givi" answered the question of what he will do after the war. The commander of "Somalia" replied that he himself did not know and had no plans yet.

“At the moment I have nowhere and no one to return to. My home is my battalion, our barracks and the front line,” Givi said.

In an interview with separatist media, the militant field commander said that his hobbies are football and boxing. He supports the Shakhtar and Real Madrid teams.

Donetsk separatists with the call sign "Givi" support the policies of Vladimir Putin, are supporters of Vladimir Zhirinovsky and advocate the occupation of the entire Donbass by the Russian Federation.

The militant commander also has page on the social network VKontakte, where he often posts information and popularizes the activities of the separatists, Russia and the united Russian-separatist forces.

According to the militants, Mikhail Tolstykh is a “lieutenant colonel” of the so-called “armed forces of Novorossiya”, the commander of the so-called “first separate battalion-tactical group of Somalia”.

Meeting Zakharchenko

The field commander of the separatists "Givi" first met the current leader of the self-proclaimed "DPR" during a report on the situation in Ilovaisk to the "Minister of Defense of the DPR" Vladimir Kononov, known under the call sign "Tsar". This happened in August 2014 in Shakhtersk. By that time, the militant leader A. Zakharchenko headed the Oplot separatist gang. The combined brigade at that time was commanded directly by the “Tsar”. At that time, there were about 70 militants under the leadership of the field commander Givi.

During the meeting with the future head of the so-called. "DPR", organized by V. Kononov, "Givi" received a unit of artillery from him. Mikhail Tolstykh himself actively supports and constantly praises the policies of the leader of the so-called. "DPR" by Alexander Zakharchenko.

Moreover, the field commander of the separatists "Givi", playing along with Russian propaganda, continues to state that the terrorists held the city of Ilovaisk in the amount of 170 militants and with 1 unit of the Nona artillery installation, allegedly received from Alexander Zakharchenko. The militant, working for the Russian propaganda picture, continues to declare the absence of the Russian army in the Ilovaisk cauldron. And “Nona” proposes to create a monument to the above-mentioned installation in Ilovaisk.

Participation in torture and abuse

Terrorist field commander Mikhail Tolstykh is widely known on the Internet for his abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war and Ukrainian patriots. You can find many video links on the Internet confirming this information:

Forced to eat the chevrons of captured military personnel at the airport. It was Givi who mocked the captured “cyborgs” led by Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Kuzminykh;

Harassment of officers;

Demonstrative abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Ilovaisk together with “Kadyrovites” and others.

On April 7, 2015, a representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Assistant Chief of the General Staff Tatyana Rychkova, in an interview with Ukrayinska Pravda, stated that Mikhail Tolstykh, better known as “Givi,” commander of the “Somalia” battalion, demonstratively shot wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the Donetsk airport.

“I know that the separatists were simply finishing off our guys. The soldiers of the 25th brigade are not taken prisoner at all, they are killed immediately. “Givi” started this. He demonstratively shot a soldier,” said Rychkova. “One of the Russian military told ours about this , one of those who still know with honor that prisoners are not killed. He said: “This idiot shot your boy for show.”

At the same time, the commander of the terrorist gang, Mikhail Tolstykh, is quite cruel to the militants who are part of the illegal armed group he leads, known as “Somalia”. The terrorist could easily publicly beat his subordinate militants and throw them “in the basement.”

The Ukrainian military and partisans have repeatedly tried to destroy the terrorist commander, who was guilty of murders and abuses of Ukrainian prisoners of war, but the militant has so far escaped unscathed.

Thus, in March of this year, an attempt was made on the life of the famous terrorist Mikhail Tolstykh, nicknamed “Givi,” as the militant himself told the Russian propaganda TV channel LifeNews. According to Givi, the attack took place on March 19, when he was leaving Makeyevka. At least 12 rounds of 5.45 mm caliber were fired into the car. The terrorist said that he managed to jump out of the car while it was moving: “I managed to jump out of the car and it was already rolling away on its own. We counted 12 hits on the car. They hit the rear doors, the glass, and hit the engine. I saw the car, took out a sawed-off shotgun that was a gift from Zakharchenko opened fire, but they took off and drove towards the bypass road."

In June 2015, information was disseminated that the terrorist was killed during hostilities, but the militant brazenly called during a live broadcast of the 112 TV channel and denied this statement.

Public activity of the militant

Despite the militant’s participation in torture, sadism and murder of Ukrainian military personnel and Ukrainian patriots, Russian propaganda continues to promote the image of a terrorist field commander, as well as the famous “Motorola”. The militants make the so-called mythical “militia” “heroes” and popularize their activities among the Russian audience. On the Internet, Russian and separatist media broadcast the militant’s participation in a staged military parade on May 9, as well as the pathetic celebration of the terrorist commander’s birthday.

According to the "Informator", at the end of May 2015, information appeared that a group of terrorists led by "Givi" with weapons visited the Donetsk railway station with the aim of recruiting "volunteers" for bandit formations and for digging trenches. However, the militants received fierce resistance from both women and men. At the same time, they boldly spoke to his face about the negative attitude towards the “liberators” and criticized the activities of the Russian occupiers. Most of the women said they were going to Kyiv. This wildly outraged “Givi”, who left the station with obscenities, without agitating anyone. At the same time, he wished for people with different views that they would die from a direct hit from a shell.
“Civilians show disrespect for people in uniform. Although, on the one hand, here we ourselves are to blame, “other militias,” as I call such people. Firstly, someone started doing something weird, and that’s it , everyone is like that. It’s a pity. And when the massacre begins, when the artillery shelling begins, everyone hopes that the “Rostov” battalion, the “Somalia” battalion survived and held on, then they are for us, in my opinion. And so - we are enemy number one for them, why "Well, that's my opinion, at least I'm telling it like it is. They start accusing me of something, they start filing some kind of criminal cases," admitted the militant with the call sign "Givi."
In general, Russian propaganda is actively using the terrorist commander “Givi” to wage an information war against Ukraine. The militant, as part of the information sabotage of the Russian special services, spreads the opinion that the allegedly occupied territory of the Donetsk region will never return to Ukraine, and terrorists will seize the entire administrative part of the Donetsk region.
In mid-September, the commander of the Givi militants once again, for Russian propaganda, announced the presence of mythical foreign mercenaries in Avdievka and that he did not want to comply with the Minsk agreements.
“Vodino, Avdeevka, Lastochkino - information is popping up everywhere about the influx of mercenaries. In Lastochkino there are “negros”, excuse me, African Americans. They have repeatedly entered Avdeevka,” Givi stated as part of the propaganda of the Russian media.
However, residents of Avdiivka told Donbass News journalists over the phone that foreigners fighting on the side of the Ukrainian army had never been seen in Avdiivka and Lastochkino.
In September 2015, a ceremonial presentation of membership cards of the separatist movement “Donetsk Republic” to militants of the “Ministry of Defense” of the separatist “republic” took place. Membership cards were presented personally by Alexander Zakharchenko. Among the new DPR activists who received tickets was Mikhail Tolstykh.
However, not all militants like open public activity. In particular, the leader of Russian terrorists Igor Girkin, criticizing the activities of Mikhail Tolstykh, said that he is not a talented commander, but has become only a “media star” for the Russian media. According to Girkin, Tolstykh was a driver for militants in Slavyansk and only thanks to the Russian media he became what he is now.

Gang formation "Somalia"

The name of the gang, led by the field commander of the Givi militants, is known to many today due to the active media use of the terrorist by Russian propaganda. Terrorist commander Mikhail Tolstykh heads the “first separate battalion-tactical group of Somalia.”

According to Information Resistance, “the first separate battalion-tactical group of “Somalia” consists of approximately 300-350 militants. The structure of the bandit formation: 1st company detachment, 2nd company detachment; tank unit, approximately 1-1, 5 tank a company of normal strength; an artillery group, which includes several mortar, anti-tank and artillery units. Mortar crews and ATGMs are also part of “line” companies; reconnaissance and sabotage unit, up to a company, rear and medical groups. Armed with: tanks type T-64B and T-64BV, T-72A and T-72BA, according to some data, there are 1-2 units of T-72B3; armored fighting vehicles - BMP-1.2, BTR-70.80, MT-LB, BRDM- 2; artillery and mortars. 6-8 units of 122 mm D-30 guns - about 6 units of 122 mm self-propelled guns 2S1 "Gvozdika", 4 units of 100 mm MT-12 "Rapira" anti-tank guns, 6 - 152 mm guns "Msta-B", one and a half batteries of 82-mm and 120-mm mortars; ATGM, MANPADS, SPG-9, AGS-17.21, ZU-23-2 - in full range; small arms "full Russian-Soviet spectrum"; transport is represented by army variations of KamazUral and a whole range of used civilian equipment from jeeps to buses and trucks.

Well-known places of “use” of the illegal armed group of militants: the capture and retention of Slavyansk; fighting in Ilovaisk; DAP area.

On June 28, 2015, the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Donetsk region, Vyacheslav Abroskin, published a list of some militants of the separate “Somalia” battalion of the so-called “DPR”, operating under the leadership of Mikhail Tolstykh (“Givi”). These are mostly previously convicted residents of the Donetsk region.

“In the territory of the Donetsk region occupied by militants, the bandits of “Somalia” are operating under the leadership of Mikhail Tolstykh, born in 1980, a resident of Ilovaisk, nicknamed “Givi.” A “militia figure” who went from a parking attendant to a “lieutenant colonel of the DPR.” “Givi” known for his demonstrative interrogations of captured Ukrainian soldiers,” Abroskin wrote on Facebook and added a list of terrorists. - Alexander Arepyev, born in 1989, resident of Makeyevka. Asin Evgeniy, born in 1993, resident of Donetsk. Tolstoy’s “colleague” from his previous job as a security guard at a supermarket. Bilykh Vladislav, born in 1993, resident of Khartsyzsk. He was registered in the "children's room of the police" as a juvenile offender. In 2009, he was suspected of committing a robbery. Berezhnoy Maxim, born in 1994, resident of Dergachi, Kharkov region. Bilenko Vadim, born in 1990, resident of Khartsyzsk. Borodin Roman, born in 1994, resident of Donetsk. Volchkov Egor, born in 1990, resident of Donetsk. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Goncharov Gennady, born in 1975, resident of Novogrodovka. Roman Gorokhov, born in 1990, resident of Donetsk. Yesenaliev Rinat, born in 1992, resident of Donetsk. Eskov Oleg, born in 1990, resident of Donetsk. Zavorotinsky Yuri, born in 1989, resident of Makeevka. In 2013, suspicions were announced for drug possession. Artem Ivanov, born in 1985, resident of Zugres. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Ismiev Anton, born in 1988, resident of Kherson. Kaliberda Andrey, born in 1993, resident of Makeevka. Previously convicted. Kasyanov Vitaly, born in 1978, resident of Khartsyzsk. Previously convicted. Laznik Vladislav, born in 1995, resident of Donetsk. Twice brought to administrative responsibility. Mikhail Lyubchenko, born in 1994, resident of the Slavyansky district. In 2012, he was suspected of committing a robbery. Mikhail Malakhov, born in 1986, resident of Donetsk. We've been convicted twice. Grenade launcher. Maluk Roman, born in 1988, resident of Ilovaisk. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Alexey Petrauskas, born in 1992, resident of Selidovo. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Podlesny Vladislav, born in 1994, resident of Donetsk. Radchenko Artem, born in 1984, resident of Makeevka. Rasulov Dmitry, born in 1991, resident of Donetsk. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Alexey Soloviev, born in 1972, resident of Slavyansk, nickname “Nightingale”. Starodubtsev Dmitry, born in 2001, resident of Donetsk. Sniper. Tarasenko Nikolay, born in 1991, resident of Ilovaisk. He was brought to administrative responsibility. Tereshchenko Denis, born in 1979, resident of Starobeshevsky district. In 2009, he was put on trial for robbery. Titarenko Roman, born in 1988, resident of Pavlograd. They will not escape responsibility for the crimes they have committed. Their “colleagues” in the gang from the Russian Federation will be identified, despite attempts to hide behind nicknames.”

In September, the portal timeua.com reported that the commander of the “Somalia” militant detachment, Mikhail Tolstykh, was appointed head of a “separate assault battalion”, which comes under the direct leadership of the leader of the “DPR” Alexander Zakharchenko. The training of Zakharchenko’s personal guards, which is what the separatists themselves called the newly created battalion under the leadership of “Givi” on social networks, will be very different from the training of other “DPR” militants. In addition to increased attention to physical training, an important element will be the development of skills and coordination of actions of foot assault groups and cover technology in conditions of interaction at short distances, as well as during street battles. In this battalion of militants, special emphasis, according to Zakharchenko’s instructions, will be placed on combat operations in buildings of varying degrees of height.

Potential assessment

The field commander of the Givi militants belongs to the category of so-called “media stars” among the leaders of illegal armed groups of Donetsk separatists. However, unlike Motorola, he is a less iconic media figure in Russian propaganda media. The activities of the commander of the terrorist gang Mikhail Tolstykh, according to Igor Girkin, have recently been limited to propaganda pictures for the separatist media, and not active participation in hostilities. The leader of Russian terrorists, Igor “Strelkov,” has a low opinion of the military “talent” of Mikhail Tolstykh, adding that it was the Kremlin media that created him into a “hero” of the separatists. Compared to militant commander Arseny Pavlov, Igor Girkin does not consider Mikhail Tolstykh to be the leading commander of the separatist gang.

The main risk for the militant with the call sign “Givi” is the threat of physical destruction from Ukrainian patriots or representatives of the special services due to the sadistic attitude towards prisoners of war and Ukrainian patriots. According to this indicator, Mikhail Tolstykh has common features with the terrorist commander Arseny Pavlov.

Today, the main threat to terrorist commander Mikhail Tolstykh is the loss of his media presence in the Russian propaganda media, which for months have been creating the image of him as a “talented leader” of a terrorist detachment. This turn of events will affect the authority of Givi among the separatists, which is maintained only thanks to the information support of the pro-Kremlin media. Not having, according to the militants themselves, great military talents, the loss of presence in the media for Mikhail Tolstoy also means a gradual loss of his positions, possible replacement, exclusion from the ranks of gangs, or even a “purge.” The use of Mikhail Tolstykh by Russian propaganda is an element of Russia’s information war against Ukraine. Therefore, a change in the priorities of the Russian media in this approach will mean the end of the career of the Givi field commander. Also among the threats to Mikhail Tolstykh, it should be noted a possible arrest and show trial by representatives of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies with public coverage of the criminal activities of militants and Russian military personnel on the territory of Ukraine. This also poses a threat to the external “curators” of the militant “Givi”.

Mikhail Tolstykh’s vulnerabilities are: dependence on Russian propaganda; artificially created authority among local militants; hunting by Ukrainian partisans and law enforcement officers.

The terrorist field commander's resources remain contacts with Russian media and connections with separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko.

The possibility of “cleaning up” or destroying the field commander “Givi” in the current military-political conditions in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region is assessed as low probability. The liquidation or arrest of Mikhail Tolstykh is possible only with a change of power in Donetsk to representatives more loyal to Rinat Akhmetov or the Ukrainian authorities, in which case the terrorist commanders can create real military-political opposition and a threat to the new leadership. But the situation can change at any moment, as can the attitude towards him on the part of external Russian “curators” even under the current collaborationist government of Alexander Zakharchenko.