A Ukrainian media outlet has released an audio of the moments before the seizure of Serpent Island, an uninhabited islet in Ukraine, by the Russian Army.
With the occupation of the island, located near the Romanian border, the Russian army expanded its maritime geostrategic position in the Black Sea.
They were The Ukrainian border guards defending the islet refused to surrender and fell in combat, but before they were confronted by a Russian warship that threatened to bomb them if they did not surrender.
“This is a Russian military warship. We suggest that you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and casualties. Otherwise, it will be bombed”, the Russian Army is heard saying as it approaches the islet, according to an audio released by the Ukrainian media outlet Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth).
After the warning, one of the 13 Ukrainian soldiers replies: “Russian warship, go to hell” . The audio cuts off at the end of it.
After this reply, “an attack with missiles and artillery began”, according to a message retweeted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, confirmed this Friday that the 13 soldiers died yesterday after the bombing of a Russian warship .
“All the border guards died heroically but they did not surrender. They will be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously”, he reported.
The seizure of Snake Island has caused concern in Romania, a country that is part of NATO, which sees how The most pessimistic forecasts about the advance of Russian troops to the vicinity of its territory are fulfilled.
“The military campaign in Ukraine is a show of force by Putin, more for the West than for the Russian public opinion or for the Ukrainians,” Romanian ex-Soviet space expert Armand Gosu told EFE.
Gosu believes that Putin will not stop at the gates of NATO if he emerges victorious from the war against Ukraine.