‘Go f**k yourself’: Ukranian soldiers on Snake Island are alive and have been taken prisoner

Ukrainian border guards protecting Snake Island, who reportedly refused to surrender to Russian attackers, are alive and have been taken prisoner.

In a major twist, the defenders of a tiny island in the Black Sea, who all reportedly died, are in fact alive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said on Friday that Zmiinyi Island – also known as Snake Island – had fallen to Russian forces, and claimed all defenders had been killed.

“All the defenders of the island of Zmiinyi died, but did not surrender,” Mr Zelensky said.

“All of them will be named Heroes of Ukraine.”

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The tiny Snake Island in the Black Sea near Romania.

However, it has now been confirmed that the Ukrainian soldiers are alive and are being held captive, the Ukrainian navy has revealed, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.

The border guards became celebrated when they allegedly told a Russian warship to “go f*ck yourself” after being ordered to surrender.

Defence reporter Illia Ponomarenko confirmed the Snake Island defenders were alive and had been taken prisoner.

The Ukrainian border guards guarding Snake Island are alive. Picture: Google Earth

The first report that the soldiers had not been killed came on Sunday when the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine issued a new statement indicating the defenders may still be alive.

“We [have a] strong belief that all Ukrainian defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island may be alive,” the statement said.

‘Go f*ck yourself’

A widely shared video purportedly included audio of the defenders’ defiant resistance when a Russian warship demanded they surrender.

Zelensky: today we lost 137 military and civilians, including 10 officers. All defenders of the Snake island are dead.
There have been reports about 11 female soldiers who died after Putin’s missile hit their barracks. #StandWithUkraine

— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) February 24, 2022

“This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you’ll be bombed,” the Russians said in the clip.

The Ukrainian defenders responded, “Russian warship, go f*ck yourself”.

#UkraineConflict #UkraineRussiaCrisis #Ukraina #Putin #PutinIsaWarCriminal #StopRussianAggression

- "I am a Russian ship, I suggest you lay down your arms."

– "Russian ship go f*ck yourself."

After that, the island was hit. pic.twitter.com/wbKEt1x8HB

— David Kime (@CyberRealms1) February 24, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Zmiinyi Island – also known as Snake Island – had fallen to Russian forces

Communications with the border guards and armed forces on the island were severed after an aerial attack and artillery shelling.

Snake Island is one of the country’s southernmost settlements.