13 Doomed Ukrainians to Russian Warship: ‘Go F--- Yourself’

A group of 13 Ukrainian border guards alone on a remote island in the Black Sea held their position Thursday, Feb. 24, as a Russian warship demanded they surrender. Their final radio call: “Go fuck yourself.”

The Russians killed them.

“This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you’ll be bombed.”

Zmiinyi defenders: “Russian warship, go fuck yourself.” https://t.co/0V3749owtc pic.twitter.com/HtEEEpxNuc
— Woofers (@NotWoofers) February 24, 2022

But by the end of the first day of the Russian invasion, the guards’ final act of defiance had already become a national rallying cry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in an evening message to the nation that all 13 of the Snake Island, or Zmiinyi, border guards “died heroically,” according to Ukrayinska Pravda.

“But they did not give in,” Zelenskyy said. “All of them will be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously. Eternal memory to those who gave their lives for Ukraine.”

"All the defenders of the island of Zmiinyi died, but did not surrender. All of them will be named Heroes of Ukraine.” said Ukrainian President Zelensky.

Official confirmation that Zmiinyi/Serpent Island has been captured by Russian forces.
— CaucasusWarReport (@Caucasuswar) February 24, 2022

Coffee or Die Magazine confirmed the translation of an audio clip circulated online of the final radio calls, in which a voice identifies itself as a “Russian warship,” and states: “I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless victims. Otherwise, you will be shelled.”

The soldiers’ response: “Russian warship, go fuck yourself.”

In a five-second video shared via livestream, a Ukrainian soldier shared the moment between the Russian warship opening fire and him hitting the ground.

Ukrainian soldier deployed on Snake Island live streamed the moment a Russian warship opened fire on the Island.

13 soldiers died in the attack. pic.twitter.com/FDe92rYYVR
— C O U P S U R E (@COUPSURE) February 24, 2022

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Noelle Wiehe

Staff writer

Noelle is an award-winning journalist from Cincinnati, Ohio, who came to Coffee or Die Magazine following a fellowship from Military Veterans in Journalism. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has strived to be a military journalist ever since her internships with the US Army Cadet Command in college. She worked as a civilian journalist covering several units, including the 75th Ranger Regiment on Fort Benning, before she joined the military herself and served as a public affairs specialist attached to the 3rd Infantry Division. She deployed once to fill a role as a media analyst for the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait. She has a passion for sharing stories of heroes and people who are far more interesting than they think they are. She follows where the job takes her, but currently resides on the East Coast in Georgia.