Featured Image Credit: Ukraine Armed Forces
Topics: World News, Russia
Tom Wood
A Ukrainian soldier has been hailed as a hero after he blew himself up with a bridge in order to stop Russian troops advancing, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Sharing the news on their Facebook page, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Vitaliy Skakun Volodymyrovych took up a position at a bridge near to Crimea when Russian tanks were advancing.
When he realised that he would not be able to get out in time before the explosion, he allegedly took the decision to stay down and ensure that the bridge was destroyed, even though it meant giving his own life.
His country's armed forces have since called him a hero.
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The translated post reads: "On this difficult day for our country, when the Ukrainian people are repelling the Russian occupiers in all directions, one of the most difficult places on the map of Ukraine was the Isthmus of Perekop, where a separate marines battalion was one of the first to meet the enemy,"
Quoting the same force, Euromaidan Press wrote on Twitter: "To stop the advance of the tank column, the decision was to blow up the Henichesk bridge.
"The engineer Skakun Vitaliy volunteered to perform this task. He mined the bridge but couldn't leave and blew it up together with himself."
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His comrades reported that they heard from Vitaliy that he planned to blow up the bridge, and then heard an immediate explosion.
The general staff statement continued: "Our comrade died.
"His heroic deed significantly slowed the enemy's advance, which allowed the unit to redeploy and organise the defence,"
The statement also confirmed that Vitaliy will be considered for a state military award.
They said: “The Marine Command will apply to the High Command to award the state award to sailor Skakun Vitaliy Volodymyrovych.”
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Despite his efforts, it is believed that the area has now been seized by Russian forces.
The invasion, which started in the early hours of Thursday morning, has continued for a second day, with Russian forces moving towards the capital Kyiv, meeting heavy resistance along the way.
However, footage this morning appeared to show that tanks had arrived in the capital.
Ukraine’s government has banned men aged between 18 and 60 years old from leaving the area and has asked that anyone who is willing and able to take up arms against the invaders should do so.
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The UK, USA, and European Union, as well as other countries, have enacted severe sanctions against Russia, although many believe that these sanctions do not go far enough.
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.