A Russian warship that reportedly attacked Ukrainian border guards on Snake Island after the group told the ship to “go f—k yourself” has been destroyed, according to new reports this week.
According to the Times of London, Ukrainian military sources said the Vasily Bykov – a massive patrol vessel commissioned in late 2018 – was hit during a battle early Monday local time.
“Ship was destroyed, it is confirmed,” an anonymous Ukrainian military source told the outlet.
The Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted a video on Facebook on Monday claiming Ukrainian forces “struck an enemy ship,” forcing “the enemy” to retreat.
“Today, March 7, 2022, units of the Marine Corps of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine defending the Odessa region were struck by an enemy ship. The enemy retreated again,” the Ukraine navy’s post said, according to Google Translate.
The Times of London reported that a man in the video says, “We f—king hit them.”
Ukrainian officials have not officially confirmed if the ship that was hit sank, or if it was indeed the infamous Snake Island vessel.
In late February, a group of 13 Ukrainian border guards were reportedly killed after telling a Russian warship “go f–k yourself” in response to Russian troops demanding their surrender. Audio of the exchange before its deadly end went viral following the alleged attack.
The border guards were stationed on Snake Island in the Black Sea south of Odesa when the Russian warship threatened to attack if the guards refused to surrender.
“This is Russian warship. I repeat. I suggest you surrender your weapons and capitulate. Otherwise, I will open fire. Do you copy?” the Russian troops said over a radio.
“This is it,” a Ukrainian border guard says quietly to another guard.
“Should I tell him to go f—k himself? Just in case,” he continues.
After a moment, the Ukrainian border guard turns up the volume on radio and responds, “Russian warship, go f—k yourself.”
Initial reports said all 13 guards were killed while standing their ground in the face of a Russian attack; however, Russia later claimed that the border guards were actually alive and taken as prisoners. Ukrainian officials have shared the belief that the Snake Island defenders are alive, but it’s not yet clear if Russia is telling the truth. No evidence of their condition has been provided.
Russia’s state-run TASS News Agency reported that it had captured 82 Ukrainian defenders around Snake Island after they “laid down their weapons and voluntarily surrendered.” The Russian side said the Snake Island defenders had been taken to Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea, and made to sign written vows not to fight against Russia in the future.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine subsequently said, “We have strong beliefs that all Ukrainian defenders of Zmiiniy Island may be alive.”
