Yuri Mikhailovich Antonov was born into the family of an officer of the Soviet Army, Mikhail Vasilievich Antonov, who after World War II stayed to serve in the military administration of Berlin. Yuri's sister, Zhanna (Jane) was born there. His mother, Natalya Mikhailovna (Litovchenko), who was from Kremenchuk (Poltava Region), died in 2008 at age 85.