Ukrainian Soldier Blew Himself Up On A Bridge To Stop The Russian Troops From Advancing
A Ukrainian soldier is being hailed as a national hero after he sacrificed his own life in the line of duty in the ongoing war with Russia.
The soldier, identified as Vitali Shakun, from the marine unit, blew himself up along with a bridge in Crimea, allowing his battalion some more time to regroup against the incoming Russian troops.
Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in Kherson, Ukraine when the Russian troops were advancing.
The only option left in front of Shakun and his battalion to stop the Russians was to blow up the bridge.
However, as the Russian troops were closing in, they did not have much time left in front of them to do it safely.
Shakun could not plant the explosive and carry out the blast from a safe distance, so he told his fellow soldiers that he was going to detonate the explosion.
According to a Facebook post by the General Staff, the battalion received a text message from Shakun saying that we will blow up the bridge, which he was standing on.
Seconds after his message was received, they heard the explosion, according to a post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Facebook page.
Incidentally, this is in the same city where an ordinary Ukrainian woman gave a dressing-down to Russian soldiers and even gave one of them sunflower seeds telling him to keep it in his pocket so that after he dies it will bloom in Ukraine.
Extreme courage
This is not the first time the Ukrainians who are heavily outnumbered and outgunned have shown unimaginable courage in front of the enemy even while facing deaths.
On Thursday, the first day of the Russian invasion 13 border guards stationed on Zmiinyi Island, aka Snake Island, in the Black Sea, were killed by Russian forces after refusing to surrender.
An audio clip has since gone viral, suggesting what went down in their final moments.
¡°This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims, or you will be bombed,¡± a voice is heard saying.
To this, a Ukrainian soldier replies saying "Russian warship, go f**k yourself.¡±
This was followed by the sound of a large explosion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged their sacrifice and said they will be honoured with the Hero of Ukraine medal, which is the highest honour.
¡°On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically,¡± he said. ¡°But they did not give up. All of them will be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Eternal memory to those who gave their lives for Ukraine,¡± he had said.
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