The border guards, on Snake Island Ukraine, were given posthumous honors by the Ukrainian president after they were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to “Go F** Yourself”.
Russia said at the time that the troops on the island surrendered and were thought to be killed in battle.
On Monday, the Ukrainian Naval Forces confirmed in a Facebook post that “our brothers-in-arms are alive and well”.
“Regarding the Marines and border guards, who were taken captive by Russian occupiers on the island of Snake. We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well with them! But Russian propaganda tries to twist the “news” about the fact that the Ukrainian authorities “forgotten”, “buried” their fellows. At the same time, the sailors bravely rebuked twice the attacks of the Russian invaders. Because of BC’s marriage, they could not continue the protection of the island. In turn, the invaders “forgot” to report that they had completely destroyed the island’s infrastructure: lighthouse, carnations, antennas, etc.,: said The Ukrainian Naval Forces.
The border guards and marines on the island “twice bravely repulsed the attacks of the Russian occupiers” but were unable to continue fighting because they ran out of ammunition, they said.
The Ukrainian navy also accused Russian forces of illegally detaining the crew of a civilian search and rescue ship that Ukraine sent to the island on a humanitarian mission after the attack, as well as two priests who were accompanying them.
“The illegal seizure of a non-combatant civilian vessel that did not carry out any military mission is a violation of the rules and customs of war and international humanitarian law,” it warned.
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