The last words of Ukrainian soldiers facing off against invading Russian military were captured in an audio clip that has since gone viral, as people around the world contend with the reality of what’s happening over there.
Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island) was attacked by a Russian warship, and the soldiers defending the sparsely populated land refused to step aside.
“This is a Russian warship,” a translation of the encounter reads. “I suggest you lay down your arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed.”
“This is it,” a Ukrainian soldier can be heard saying. “Should I tell him to go f—k himself?”
“Just in case,” his companion replies.
“Russian warship, go f—k yourself,” he says over the radio.
Kyiv later says they lost contact with all 13 guards stationed on Zmiinyi Island and believes them to be dead.
“On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said. “But they did not give up. All of them will be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Eternal memory to those who gave their lives for Ukraine.”
Russia has contested the account, claiming that the soldiers on the island surrendered.
The video has already created an impact online, shared repeatedly both to honor the courage the defenders of Snake Island showed and as a warning of all that is to come if the Russian invasion isn’t stopped.
