Russian forces have killed all the soldiers who were defending Zmiinyi Island, also known as Snake Island, located in the Black Sea.
In a final display of defiance, a Ukrainian soldier told the warship that came to attack them: “Go fuck yourself.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed overnight that Snake Island, which is small but strategically important for the defense of Ukraine’s territorial waters and among its southernmost settlements, had been captured by Russia.
“All the defenders of Snake Island died, but they did not surrender,” Zelenskiy said in a video posted on Telegram, adding that they would be named “heroes of Ukraine.”
Earlier, audio had emerged of the Ukrainians defending Snake Island receiving a warning from Russian forces before the attack. All of the conversations were in Russian.
“I am a Russian warship. I suggest you lay down your arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims, or you will be bombed,” the Russians said.
A male Ukrainian soldier is heard saying “So that’s it … Should I tell them to fuck themselves?”
A female Ukrainian soldier responds: “Well, just in case.”
The male soldier then says: “Warship, go fuck yourself.”
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