'Go F*** Yourself': 13 Ukrainian Soldiers On An Island Defied A Russian Warship, And Died

The story of a bunch of Ukrainian soldiers who defiantly used the F-word at Russian naval ships that had trained their guns on them and ordered them to surrender, knowing it would lead to deaths, shows the kind of fighting spirit running among the country's outgunned forces that still keeps the war going.

The Russian Navy captured Snake Island, a small Ukrainian border patrol outpost in the Black Sea, on the first day of the war, killing all 13 soldiers posted there. Snake Island or the Zmiiny Island is a strategically important spot situated about 70 nautical miles south of Odessa.

A Facebook statement by the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service read: "After . . . shelling by the occupiers' naval weapons and combat aircraft, the infrastructure on the island was destroyed."

A transcript of the alleged interaction between the Russian warship and the 13 soldiers at the outpost, which is being widely shared by journalists and war analysts on Twitter, read:

"This is a Russian military ship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims. Otherwise, we will open fire on you."

To this, the Ukrainian soldiers reportedly replied: "Russian military ship, go f*** yourself."

A statement from the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service too suggests that the soldiers did put up a brave front before being killed by the Russians.

"The enemy today repeatedly tried in vain to intimidate Ukrainian defenders on the island with demands to surrender. The border guards and [armed forces] bravely held the defense," the statement added.

Reports quoting local media outlets said Russian Navy warships Moskva and Vasily Bykov bombarded the island with deck guns before sending soldiers ashore to take control of the facility.

Earlier, Russia had deployed Slava-class warships in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, possibly to counter NATO forces. However, shortly after hostilities began, this force gathered together in tight formation and began sailing east, away from NATO forces but toward the Russian Navy's base at Tartus, Syria, according to analyst H.I. Sutton. It is not clear why Russia did so.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has reportedly asked the Turkish government to close the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to Russian naval vessels. A spokesperson for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party said the country is assessing the request and "will use its discretion in favor of peace instead of deepening the conflict."

There are also growing fears that Kyiv could fall within hours as Russian troops have reportedly arrived at the capital city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to stay put in the capital as his troops battled the enemy.