Editor’s note: This article has been updated.
A defiant group of 13 Ukrainian border guards defending Snake Island in the Black Sea reportedly told a Russian warship to “go f*** yourself” after being ordered to surrender.
Multiple outlets reported that the guards were approached by the warship as they defended the island located in the Black Sea.
“This is a Russian warship, I repeat. I suggest you surrender your weapons and capitulate otherwise I will open fire. Do you copy?” the Russians warned.
“This is it,” one of the guards can be heard saying in the audio clip below which has been translated. “Should I tell him to go f*** himself?”
“Just in case,” another replies.
The first guard seems to agree, turning up the volume on his broadcast radio before declaring: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.”
Translations seem to vary, with the BBC reporting that the Ukrainians replied, “Go to hell.”
last words for some incredibly brave ukrainians pic.twitter.com/cRYCzGRQtB
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 25, 2022
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13 Ukrainian Border Guard in Heroic Last Stand
The 13 Ukrainian border guards were initially widely reported as killed as the Russian warship opened fire with barreled guns and aircraft bombed Snake Island.
Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, tweeted audio of the pre-attack dialogue.
“13 Ukrainians gave their lives to a criminal act by Vladimir Putin,” he wrote.
13 ukrainians gave their lives to a criminal act by vladimir putin
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 25, 2022
Another video on social media purports to show one of the 13 Ukrainian guards live-streaming the scene seconds before the Russian warship opens fire.
He yells out and falls to the ground as gunfire can be heard in the video. Ukrainian officials indicate all of the guards were killed in the attack.
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
However, the latest reports confirm that the Ukrainians were not killed.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the Ukrainian Navy confirmed the soldiers were captured alive.
The Ukrainian navy announced on Monday that it was aware that the border guards on Snake Island who were at first thought to have died in a Russian assault were in fact alive and being held prisoner by the Russians.
…
The navy added that a civilian ship had gone to the island to help the victims after the attack, but it was captured by the Russians. The navy demanded the release of all Ukrainian citizens.
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Ukraine President Calls Them Heroes
Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera on “Fox & Friends” this morning said the defiance of the 13 Ukrainian border guards was the equivalent of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.
“There is no doubt, but this could go into the building of the national legend. This could be Ukraine’s Alamo. This could be Leonidas and Sparta standing against Xerxes,” Rivera said.
To Russian Forces invading Ukraine, Go Fuck Yourself.
“Remember Snake Island!”
It will be the #UkraineAlamo.— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) February 25, 2022
Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw said the audio of the 13 Ukrainian soldiers standing strong against Russia no matter their fate is the “kind of thing that gives you goosebumps.”
“This is the kind of thing they will make movies of, they will write books on, and they will make statues of these men,” said Crenshaw.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the men as heroes.
“On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically,” he said. “But [they] did not give up.”
“May the memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine live forever,” added Zelensky.
President Zelensky confirmed the event and said the border guards died bravely defending the island and would be posthumously awarded the Hero of Ukraine medal, according to @ukrpravda_news. https://t.co/Jv0siyIz9x
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 24, 2022
The Ukraine President said he would bestow the 13 Ukrainian border guards with the title “Hero of Ukraine,” reportedly the highest honor that can be awarded.
Of course, if the men are still alive, they will not be receiving such awards.
