Their iconic ‘go f**k yourself” has become synonymous with Ukraine’s resistance
The Snake Island border patrol guards who shouted “go f**k yourself” at Russian soldiers have now been freed in a Ukraine and Russia prisoner exchange.
Soldiers stationed on Zmiinyi Island, commonly referred to as Snake Island, received worldwide fame after their tense standoff with a Russian warship on February 24. While they were initially believed to be dead, Ukrainian officials confirmed on February 28 that the soldiers had actually been captured.
⚡️ The first exchange of war hostages occurred on President @ZelenskyyUa's order. Additionally, today, #Ukraine exchanged 11 Russian sailors we rescued from a sunken ship near #Odesa to 19 Ukrainian sailors (authors of the legendary phrase "Russian warship go f*** yourself")
👇 pic.twitter.com/HavGsHeaF9— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) March 24, 2022
However, after almost a month under Russian control, the prisoners have now been freed, according to Ukraine’s official parliamentary Twitter. They wrote: “The first exchange of war hostages occurred on President @ZelenskyyUa’s order.
“Additionally, today, #Ukraine exchanged 11 Russian sailors we rescued from a sunken ship near #Odesa to 19 Ukrainian sailors (authors of the legendary phrase “Russian warship go f*** yourself”).”
In a separate tweet, the officials added: “Our sailors will return home from the rescue ship ‘Sapphire’ which was captured by the Russian occupiers while trying to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the #Zmiiny island.”
While the famed troops will return home on a once-captured ship, the warship used to threaten them was destroyed in an enormous explosion earlier in March. One man can be heard shouting, “We f****** hit them”, and another echoes the sentiments spoken by Snake Island soldiers and shouts: “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.”
Our sailors will return home from the rescue ship "Sapphire," which was captured by the Russian occupiers while trying to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the #Zmiiny island. Under the exchange terms, the lifeboat will also be returned to #Ukraine and sent to a Turkish port.
— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) March 24, 2022
“Under the exchange terms, the lifeboat will also be returned to #Ukraine and sent to a Turkish port,” Ukraine’s parliament added.
People have been reacting to the fabulous news online, where one person tweeted: “Champs are back safe!!!!! Winning.”
“Welcome HOME all 🙂 Victory to Ukraine,” another said.
Related links:
- Russian ship that attacked Snake Island’s ‘f**k yourself’ soldiers has been destroyed
- Snake Island soldiers who told Russian warship ‘go f**k yourself’ are alive, Navy confirms
- ‘Russian warship, go f**k yourself,’ Ukrainian soldier said moments before death
