The Ukrainian Navy has confirmed the Ukrainian heroes of Snake Island, feared dead after they told a Russian warship 'go f*** yourself', are alive.
The 13 troops on the tiny Black Sea island, 186 miles west of Crimea, were thought to have been among the first victims of Putin’s invasion amid rumours they were killed in Russian air and sea bombardment.
Rumours they had survived spread over the weekend and now the Ukrainian Navy has confirmed they are alive, albeit captured by enemy soldiers.
In a clip which went viral, the border guards had responded to a Russian warship warning they would be bombed by saying: “Russian warship... go f*** yourself.”
In a Facebook post the Navy wrote: “Regarding the Marines and border guards on the island of Snake…we are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well.
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“They were illegally captured by the Russians. Illegal capture of a civilian ship - a non-combatant without performing any military mission, is a violation of the rules and customs of war, international humanitarian law.
“We demand from Russia the immediate release of illegally occupied citizens of Ukraine.
"We address the world community, to the believers of all churches requesting to take all possible measures to influence the Russian Federation for the return of our citizens.
“The sailors bravely rebuked twice the attacks of the Russian invaders.
“In turn, the invaders "forgot" to report that they had completely destroyed the island's infrastructure: lighthouse, carnations, antennas, etc.
“Repeated attempts to contact the personal team and learn about its fate were futile and the permanent shelling on the side of warships and aviation of the Russian Federation did not allow to help the Marines.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky later declared the group of 13 as "heroes."
Shortly after the attack Russian media reported they were taken as prisoners from their base on Snake Island in the Black Sea to Sevastopol, a Crimean port city.
On Friday, Russia's defence ministry said Ukrainian soldiers on the island had surrendered to them voluntarily. It made no mention of carrying out strikes or inflicting casualties.
Russian Major-General Igor Konashenkov stated how the servicemen on the island “laid down their arms and voluntarily surrendered to a unit of the Russian Armed Forces”.
Today, a Ukrainian and Russian delegation have met on the Belarussian border for negotiations.
It came after the UK Defence Secretary warned the Russian invasion of Ukraine was likely to become "more violent" as Putin's army falls behind schedule.
This morning it was announced that 4,500 Russian soldiers had died and 16 Ukrainian children killed during the invasion so far.
