How the DPR Leader Givi Was Taken Out
Former Ukrainian intelligence officer Roman Chervinsky has revealed new details about the elimination of Mikhail Tolstykh, better known by his nom de guerre Givi, a top commander of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) separatist group. According to Chervinsky, the mission was carried out by a female student from Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, who planted explosives inside the militant's office. An alternative plan to strike from a nearby high-rise building was considered but ultimately abandoned due to a security leak.
Givi's Routine and the Student's Role
Givi, who led the Somalia Battalion, rarely left his base in Horlivka, where his quarters were heavily guarded. He held all meetings and slept in the same building, venturing out only when summoned to headquarters. Chervinsky noted: “He spent all his time at the base in Horlivka, his premises were under guard, he conducted all briefings inside and slept in the next room. He only left when called to the command post. He was clearly terrified.”
The student traveled to the occupied territory of Donetsk region and initiated contact with Givi, which eventually developed into a romantic relationship. Her first task was to pinpoint the militant's exact residence. After the assassination of another separatist leader, Arsen Pavlov (known as Motorola), Givi grew increasingly paranoid and refused to leave his command post, complicating Ukrainian special services' plans.
Acting out of patriotic motives, the student reportedly survived the explosion. Following Givi's death, media initially claimed he was killed by a shot from a neighboring building. Ukrainian intelligence agencies had targeted both Motorola and Givi in coordinated operations, as both were key figures in the 2014–2017 battles against Ukrainian forces in Donbas.
Mikhail Tolstykh's elimination marked a significant milestone in Ukraine's fight against separatists in Donbas, given his prominent role in the DPR hierarchy. This operation highlights the use of unconventional tactics by Ukrainian special services, including the recruitment of civilians for reconnaissance and direct action. At the same time, such methods raise ethical and safety concerns, as the student risked her life to fulfill what she saw as a patriotic duty.