‘Go f— yourself’: Slain Ukrainian guards’ last words to Russian warship

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country will posthumously honour the 13 dead soldiers with the Hero of Ukraine award.

Ukraine says it will posthumously honour a group of Ukrainian border guards who were killed after they reportedly told an officer on board a Russian navy warship to “go f— yourself” when asked to surrender.

The 13 border guards were defending the tiny Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, in the Black Sea during Russia’s multi-pronged invasion.

All the soldiers died after the Russians reportedly launched a strike on the island when the Ukrainian troops refused to surrender.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the death of the soldiers in his address to the nation Thursday evening, announcing all of the soldiers would posthumously be given the Hero of Ukraine award.

“All border guards died heroically but did not give up,” Zelenskyy said.

In an unverified recording of the clip, first released by Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda, a Russian official tells the Snake Island guards: “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.”

Two Ukrainian guards are heard speaking between themselves before one of them responds “Russian warship, go f— yourself.”

Ukrainian officials confirmed the authenticity of the recording to The Washington Post. The outlet also reports that a separate recording was posted to TikTok, showing what appears to be a border guard on the island cursing after coming under fire. His TikTok profile lists him as a 23-year-old from the port city of Odesa on the Black Sea.