According to a report released Tuesday, a Russian cruiser that fired on a group of Ukrainian border guards after being instructed to “go f–k yourselves” was destroyed in battle.
According to the Times of London, a guy is heard shouting on a tape of the altercation, “We f–king hit them.”
Another individual is said to have quoted the famous words of a Ukrainian soldier who defied a Russian order to surrender a military position on Snake Island in the Black Sea during the invasion’s first day.
“Russian warship, go f–k yourself,” the man said.
The Valisy Bykov, a small warship known as a “corvette,” was one of two Russian vessels that opened fire on Snake Island on Feb. 24, the Times said, citing the Janes military intelligence group.
An audio clip captured part of the ship’s confrontation with a contingent of 13 Ukrainian soldiers that refused to abandon its post on the island.
“This is a Russian warship,” an unidentified voice can be heard saying. “I propose you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you will be bombed.”
The Ukrainians replied, “Russian warship, go f–k yourself.”
The resisters were initially believed to have been killed by an ensuing barrage, but Ukraine’s navy later revealed the group survived and was “taken captive by the Russian invaders.”
The Vasily Bykov was then hit during an exchange of rockets early Monday, possibly by a missile fired by land-based Ukrainian forces defending the port city of Odessa, which for days has been bracing for a Russian attack, the Times said.
“Ship was destroyed, it is confirmed,” a Ukrainian military source told the British paper.
The Ukrainian navy also reportedly said units defending Odessa had “struck an enemy ship”, adding: “The enemy has retreated again.”