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.”
— Woofers (@NotWoofers) February 24, 2022
Zmiinyi defenders: “Russian warship, go fuck yourself.” https://t.co/0V3749owtc pic.twitter.com/HtEEEpxNuc
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.
— CaucasusWarReport (@Caucasuswar) February 24, 2022
Official confirmation that Zmiinyi/Serpent Island has been captured by Russian forces.
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.
— C O U P S U R E (@COUPSURE) February 24, 2022
13 soldiers died in the attack. pic.twitter.com/FDe92rYYVR
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