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| '''Mikhail Sergeyevich Tolstykh''' ({{lang-ru|Михаи́л Серге́евич Толсты́х}}), better known as '''Givi''' ({{lang|ru|Гиви}}), is the commander of the pro-Russian "Somali Battalion" ({{lang-ru|link=no|Батальон Сомали}}) in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/world/europe/in-ukraine-civilians-in-crossfire.html?_r=0|title=In Ukraine, Civilians in Crossfire|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> In an online interview, Givi said that he is from ] and served in the ] from 1998 to 2000 before working in a slingrope factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVU49UDVTGQ&list=UUG2L5r9T5iYCH0Mmgq85jNQ|title=Interview with NAF commander Givi about his personal life|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> He is 34 as of October 2014; his civilian (real) name is Mikhail Tolstykh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1FLTiEVMs|title= Givi gives his number! Interview by Graham Phillips|work=]|accessdate=13 October 2014}}</ref> He joined the separatists in the early stages of the war and was involved in the ].<ref name=rebelstake>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/09/02/pkg-magnay-ukraine-ilovaisk-captured.cnn.html|title=Pro-Russian rebels take Ukrainian town|agency=]|date=2 September 2014|accessdate=5 September 2014|archivedate=7 September 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20140907124057/http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/09/02/pkg-magnay-ukraine-ilovaisk-captured.cnn.html}}</ref> Givi led separatists in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/rebel-commander-wages-fight-death-east-ukraine-airport-073451740.html|title=Rebel commander wages fight to the death for east Ukraine airport|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> Givi received widespread fame in October 2014 when a video of him ignoring a ] strike landing near enough to him for shrapnel to fall at his feet was uploaded to ] and gained over 900,000 views.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11147880/Ukraine-Donetsk-fighter-unfazed-by-heavy-shelling.html|title=Ukraine: Donetsk fighter unfazed by heavy shelling|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> In an interview he stated that his great-grandfather was an ethnic Georgian.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&v=LQnCGjBzzWw#t=17</ref> | '''Mikhail Sergeyevich Tolstykh''' ({{lang-ru|Михаи́л Серге́евич Толсты́х}}), better known as '''Givi''' ({{lang|ru|Гиви}}), is the commander of the pro-Russian "Somali Battalion" ({{lang-ru|link=no|Батальон Сомали}}) in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/world/europe/in-ukraine-civilians-in-crossfire.html?_r=0|title=In Ukraine, Civilians in Crossfire|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> In an online interview, Givi said that he is from ] and served in the ] from 1998 to 2000 before working in a slingrope factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVU49UDVTGQ&list=UUG2L5r9T5iYCH0Mmgq85jNQ|title=Interview with NAF commander Givi about his personal life|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> He is 34 as of October 2014; his civilian (real) name is Mikhail Tolstykh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1FLTiEVMs|title= Givi gives his number! Interview by Graham Phillips|work=]|accessdate=13 October 2014}}</ref> He joined the separatists in the early stages of the war and was involved in the ].<ref name=rebelstake>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/09/02/pkg-magnay-ukraine-ilovaisk-captured.cnn.html|title=Pro-Russian rebels take Ukrainian town|agency=]|date=2 September 2014|accessdate=5 September 2014|archivedate=7 September 2014|deadurl=no|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20140907124057/http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/09/02/pkg-magnay-ukraine-ilovaisk-captured.cnn.html}}</ref> Givi led separatists in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/rebel-commander-wages-fight-death-east-ukraine-airport-073451740.html|title=Rebel commander wages fight to the death for east Ukraine airport|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> Givi received widespread fame in October 2014 when a video of him ignoring a ] strike landing near enough to him for shrapnel to fall at his feet was uploaded to ] and gained over 900,000 views.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11147880/Ukraine-Donetsk-fighter-unfazed-by-heavy-shelling.html|title=Ukraine: Donetsk fighter unfazed by heavy shelling|work=]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> In an interview he stated that his great-grandfather was an ethnic Georgian.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&v=LQnCGjBzzWw#t=17</ref> | ||
| ==Mistreatment of prisoners== | |||
| In January 2015, several videos surfaced of Tolstykh physically abusing ] captured at the ], in violation of the ]. The videos show Tolstykh clearly identifying himself before grabbing the POW's by the face, brandishing a sword, and cutting off POWs military insignia and forcing them into the POW's mouths.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-prisoners-of-war-separatists-war-crimes-questions/26816285.html |title= | |||
| Disturbing Videos Raise War-Crimes Concerns In Ukraine|date=January 28, 2015 |accessdate=January 28, 2015 |agency =Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty |last = Kates |first =Glenn |last2 =Removska |first2 = Olena | last3= |first3 =}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 16:36, 6 February 2015
| Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Tolstykh | |
|---|---|
 Givi during the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport. | |
| Nickname(s) | "Givi" |
| Born | c. 1980 (age 34) Ilovaisk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine (1998-2000) Donetsk People's Republic (2014–present) |
| Service |  Ukrainian Ground Forces (1998-2000) United Armed Forces of Novorossiya (2014–present) |
| Years of service | 1998–2000 2014–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | File:Flag of the Somalia Battalion.svg Somalia Battalion |
| Battles / wars | War in Donbass |
Mikhail Sergeyevich Tolstykh (Template:Lang-ru), better known as Givi (Гиви), is the commander of the pro-Russian "Somali Battalion" (Template:Lang-ru) in the War in Donbass. In an online interview, Givi said that he is from Ilovaisk and served in the Ukrainian Army from 1998 to 2000 before working in a slingrope factory. He is 34 as of October 2014; his civilian (real) name is Mikhail Tolstykh. He joined the separatists in the early stages of the war and was involved in the Battle of Ilovaisk. Givi led separatists in the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport. Givi received widespread fame in October 2014 when a video of him ignoring a rocket artillery strike landing near enough to him for shrapnel to fall at his feet was uploaded to YouTube and gained over 900,000 views. In an interview he stated that his great-grandfather was an ethnic Georgian.
References
- Lt. Col. Givi prepares "surprise" for Ukrainian troops. Novorossia TV. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- "In Ukraine, Civilians in Crossfire". New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- "Interview with NAF commander Givi about his personal life". YouTube. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- "[eng subs] Givi gives his number! Interview by Graham Phillips". YouTube. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- "Pro-Russian rebels take Ukrainian town". CNN. 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "Rebel commander wages fight to the death for east Ukraine airport". Yahoo News. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- "Ukraine: Donetsk fighter unfazed by heavy shelling". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&v=LQnCGjBzzWw#t=17