The Ukrainian President has hailed soldiers who died defending a remote island in the Black Sea as 'heroes' after they told a Russian warship to 'go f*** yourself.'
The 13 border guards were stationed on Ukraine's Zmiinyi Island, known as Snake Island, the largest island in the Black Sea.
They refused to surrender after the island was invaded by two Russian warships.
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An audio recording of the exchange, first obtained by news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda, was verified as authentic by Ukraine's interior minister.
The island was approached by the Russian vessels on Thursday, which could be heard announcing: “I am Russian warship, repeat I am Russian warship."
It went on: “Proposing to put down the arms immediately to avoid bloodshed and unjustified deaths.
“In worst case, you will be hit with a bomb strike. I am repeating…," according to the translation by CNN.
Two Ukrainian soldiers had a quick discussion, with one asking: “should I tell them to go f*** themselves?”
He then responded: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself”.
The guards who died on Snake Island are 13 of the 137 personnel to have been killed in the first day of Russia's military invasion on Ukraine.
In a video message on Friday, President Zelensky said that they died “heroically” and “did not give up”.
“May the memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine live forever,” he said.
He added that they would be posthumously awarded Hero of Ukraine medals.
The island is now believed to be controlled by Russian forces.
