ISLAND ATTACK
Snake Island soldiers who told Russians to ‘go f** themselves’ may be ALIVE after fears they’d been wiped out by missile
UKRAINIAN soldiers thought to have been killed after telling Russians to "go f**k yourselves" may still be alive, it was reported.
The 13 defiant border guards had been tasked with protecting Zmiinyi or Snake - Island in the Black Sea from Russian invaders.
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The heroism of the border guards caught the world's imagination with many moved their bravery in the face of death.
But in a new twist in the extraordinary story, it's now emerged the border guards may in fact still be alive.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the State Border Guard of Ukraine said they have a "strong belief that all Ukrainian defenders of Zmiinyi Island may be alive".
The force explained that information about the troops being killed came before the men lost contact.
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The Ukrainian armed forces are currently trying to locate their colleagues, said the State Border Guard.
The drama unfolded when the border guards received a message saying: "This is Russian military warship.
"I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed."
But the Ukrainian troops defiantly refused to give up the territory, and replied: "Go f**k yourselves!"
The Russians were reportedly heard swearing back at it was thought all thirteen were then massacred in an aerial bombardment.
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A chilling video revealed what was believed to be the final moments of the soldiers before they were killed in a hail of missiles from the Russian warship.
A guard can be heard saying: "They try to scare us, or what? So far nothing is destroyed.
"I cannot understand what they’re doing, most likely trying to scare us. They strike the rocks."
The deaths were reportedly later acknowledged by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
And Ukraine’s interior ministry confirmed Snake Island - which is also called Zmiinyi - had been attacked by Russian forces.
In the aftermath, Russia claimed the men were not killed in the ambush.
Pictures released by the Russians show what they say are Ukrainian, who had been defending Snake Island, in captivity.
Around dozen photos released by show the men boarding buses, being given bottled water and a food parcel, before being shown sitting in their seats.
Russia has even said that men will be released an be allowed to return to their families.
It's not known if those shown in the pictures are indeed the 13 who may still be alive.
Snake Island is ruled by Ukraine, but it sits just miles from the coast of Romania.
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The tiny island is strategically important as its fall will allow Russia to claim territorial waters stretching 12 nautical miles out to sea.
Russia would be able to cut off key shipping channels - isolating Ukraine from international markets and starving its economy of trade revenues.
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