The 13 Ukrainian border guards who last week defended the strategically-important Snake Island from a Russian warship — having gone so far as to tell the boat to "go f--k yourself" — are apparently still alive and in the hands of the Russians, The Daily Beast reports.
On Monday, Ukraine's Navy wrote in a Facebook post that, "Regarding the Marines and border guards, who were taken captive by Russian occupiers on the island of Snake ... We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well with them!" per The Daily Beast. Kyiv had previously thought all soldiers dead, with the now-famous "f--k yourself" dig against the Russians being perhaps their last words.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trialThe Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
-
How to earn extra cash for ChristmasThe Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
-
What happens if Russia declares war on Nato?Today's Big Question Fears are growing after Vladimir Putin's 'unusually specific warning' to Western governments
-
Are Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets too little too late?Today's Big Question US-made aircraft are 'significant improvement' on Soviet-era weaponry but long delay and lack of trained pilots could undo advantage against Russia
-
Ukraine's stolen childrenUnder the Radar Officially 20,000 children have been detained since Russia's invasion in 2022, but the true number is likely to be far higher
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in UkraineIn Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
-
Why is Ukraine backing far-right militias in Russia?Today's Big Question The role of the fighters is a 'double-edged sword' for Kyiv, say commentators
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Russia's thorny convict-soldier problemUnder the Radar Putin's Ministry of Defense, like Wagner, is recruiting soldiers from Russian prisons to fight his Ukraine war. Russians aren't excited about them returning home.
