Kyiv’s navy has taken to social media to reveal that the thirteen Ukrainian border guards who defended Snake Island in the Black Sea and told a Russian warship to “go f–k yourself” were not killed. The 13 guards, who were initially presumed dead, are currently alive and being held captive by the Russian invading forces.
Last Thursday on the small island near the Romanian border, the 13 Ukrainian border guards defiantly declined to surrender their post when two Russian vessels were onto them.
Taking to Facebook on Monday, the Ukraine navy gladly revealed that the guards had been “taken captive by Russian occupiers.”
“We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well,” the post said.
This new revelation comes days after Ukrainian officials declared that the guards were all killed after Russian invaders opened fire with barreled gunships and airstrikes, resulting in all communication being cut off with the 42-acre island.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service revealed on Saturday that they were very optimistic the guards could still be alive. On Friday, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian guards had surrendered — and made no mention of carrying out strikes.
The story of the 13 brave Ukrainian soldiers trended internationally when an audio clip emerged of the confrontation between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
“This is a Russian warship,” an unidentified voice can be heard saying. “I propose you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims. Otherwise you will be bombed.”
“Russian warship, go f–k yourself,” the Ukrainians soldiers answered.
Following the viral clip, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to honor the presumed-dead soldiers with the country’s highest award.
“On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically. But they did not give up. All of them will be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine,” Zelensky said on his website.
It is currently not clear if Zelensky’ will keep his promise if the guards returned home alive.
