The award was presented to border guard Roman Khribov on Tuesday for his services in the Cherkasy region, according to the Cherkasy Regional Government. Hrybov was one of 13 soldiers defending the tiny island of snakes, also known as Zmiinyi Island, in the Black Sea during Russia’s multilateral invasion. Hrybov and his fellow soldiers were reportedly killed in the Feb. 24 attack on the island.
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In a video verified by Ukrainian officials, a Russian soldier on an approaching warship warned Snake Island guards of the impending invasion: “This is a military warship. This is a Russian military warship. I suggest you drop your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary losses. “Otherwise, you will be bombed.” The story goes on under the ad Two Ukrainian guards were heard talking to each other before one of them, Hrybov, reportedly replied “Russian warship, go alone.” 0:33 Russia-Ukraine conflict: Snake Island soldiers say on Russian warship Go f— yourself confirm live Russia-Ukraine conflict: Snake Island soldiers say on Russian warship ‘Go f— yourself’ confirmed alive – March 1, 2022 The phrase has since become a slogan and a rallying cry for the Ukrainian people, with the slogan appearing on road signs and billboards throughout the war-torn nation. Trending Stories
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Birth of a meme in Ukraine: The first photo is a digital billboard with what Ukrainian soldiers said on February 24 on a Russian warship that asked soldiers on Snake Island to surrender: “Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй!” (English: “Russian warship, go f ** k yourself!”) (1/2) pic.twitter.com/rDTYoyjYXE – Jack Szwergold 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 (@JackSzwergold) March 4, 2022 The story goes on under the ad Four days after the Russian warship invaded Snake Island (and after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the soldiers’ death in his speech to the nation), Hrybov and the other soldiers were found to have survived and were captured by Russian forces. Ukrainian Navy have been reported. Khribov was awarded the prize on March 29 after returning from captivity, the Cherkasy regional state administration wrote.
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Cherkasy District Governor Igor Tamburets presented the award to Khribov. “The people of Cherkasy, together with his brothers, have shown to the whole world the stability and strength of the Ukrainian spirit, our indestructible nature,” Taburets said. Hrybov was also mentioned in a new stamp design released by the Ukrainian Postal Service, depicting a lone Ukrainian soldier giving his middle finger to a distant warship. The winning design artist, Borys Grokh, told Ukrposhta that he was so inspired by the soldier’s refusal to surrender to the Russian ship that he decided to submit a design. Borys Grokh via Ukrposhta Ukrposhta announced the winning design following a public vote on social media for a stamp contest. © 2022 Global News, part of Corus Entertainment Inc.