Ukrainian guards who told a Russian warship to “go f*** yourself” were killed moments later by a devastating missile strike.
The soldiers, who were stationed on Snake Island, near Odesa, in the Black Sea, recorded themselves talking about an enemy attack from Russian forces.
In a radio exchange shared on Twitter, a Russian officer says: “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.”
One soldier manning the radio turns to another and says “This is it. Should I tell him to go f*** himself?”
They reply: “Just in case.”
Turning up the volume on the dial, the first soldier says: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.”
Those were the final known words heard from the island.
All 13 Ukrainian defenders were killed in the following Russian bombardment on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“All border guards died heroically but did not give up. They will be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously,” Zelensky said.
A group of Ukrainian border guards were stationed on Snake Island, in the Black Sea south of Odessa, when a Russian warship ordered them to surrender under threat of attack.
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) February 25, 2022
Their response: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."
They held their ground. All 13 were killed. pic.twitter.com/GMRsXQRSX0
It came as Russian forces advanced towards Kyiv on Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases.
Explosions sounded before dawn in the capital and gunfire was reported in the city centre.
Western leaders have scheduled an emergency Nato meeting and Ukraine’s president pleaded for international help to fend off an attack.
Among the signs that the Ukrainian capital was increasingly threatened, the military said Friday that a group of Russian spies and saboteurs was seen in a district of Kyiv about 3 miles north of the city centre. Police told people not to exit a subway station in the city because there was gunfire in the area.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Kyiv “could well be under siege” in what US officials believe is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to install his own regime.
