The Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island who went viral for famously telling an invading Russian warship to go and F themselves, might still be alive after all.
Initial response
According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, who posted a Facebook statement on 26 February, they said that they’re of the strong belief that the Ukrainian defenders of the Zmiinyi Island may be alive.
Preliminary information determined that the soldiers might be dead because they had lost contact with the men.
The Border Guard Service said that they hope the boys will return home soon, as they held hope that the reports of their deaths are proven false.
They summarised their statement by saying “Glory to Ukrainian defenders!”
Captured alive by Russian forces
The defence ministry of Russia has also revealed that the Ukrainian soldiers are still alive after purportedly surrendering to the Russian forces.
Russia released photos of the captured soldiers being given bottled food and water, and boarding buses, they said that the Ukrainian soldiers will be released and allowed to return to their families.
They stopped short of mentioning the strikes carried out by them or the casualties on the island.
Contradicts Ukraine president’s statements
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky had said a day before that the “heroic deceased border guards” will be posthumously awarded.