Ukrainian forces attempting to hold a key strategic island off the coast from a Russian warship gave some defiant last words to the invaders before they were killed. You can see exactly what they said to them in the video below.
The Ukrainian soldier in charge of the radio on Zmiinyi Island – Snake Island in English – was offered the chance to lay down arms on the island and surrender, but emphatically told the Russian warship where they could go.
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The radio broadcast, purportedly from the island, heard the Russian military say: "This is a military warship. This is a Russian military warship.
“I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties.
“Otherwise, you will be bombed."
The Ukrainian soldier responded: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself”.
That is believed to be the last anyone heard from the island.
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The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service later confirmed in a statement that the island was captured and all 13 people on the island are believed to have been killed.
A statement read: "After... shelling by the occupiers' naval weapons and combat aircraft, the infrastructure on the island was destroyed. According to available information, Zmiiny Island [Snake Island] has been captured.
"The enemy today repeatedly tried in vain to intimidate Ukrainian defenders on the island with demands to surrender. The border guards and [armed forces] bravely held the defence."
In an address on Thursday night, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that all of those who died are to be awarded medals of honour after their heroic defence of the island which resulted in their death.
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He said: "On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically. But did not give up. All of them will be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.”
This attack is just one part of a wider-scale invasion of Ukraine that was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russians have taken control of not only separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk, but also the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The invading army has attacked strategic points for the Ukrainian military, as well as airports and infrastructure.
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They are believed to be advancing on the capital Kyiv today.
The UK, USA, and European Union have announced a number of sanctions on both Russian money and Russian citizens, although some suggest that these sanctions do not go far enough.
UPDATE 28/02 - The Ukrainian Navy has now confirmed that the soldiers defending Snake Island are still alive and have been taken prisoner by Russia. You can read more here.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Topics: Russia, World News
Tom Wood