A Ukrainian soldier recieves a medal for his valiant act

A civic medal has been awarded to the Ukrainian soldier who famously issued an expletive-laden message of defiance in the face of near-certain death during Russia’s onslaught on Snake Island.

Despite having no means of escape, Roman Hrybov, a border guard on the island, instructed a Russian vessel bearing down on his post on the first day of the invasion to ‘go f*** yourself.’

When the battleship opened fire on the island, he and 12 other guards were presumed killed, but it was discovered days later that the group had miraculously survived and had been taken prisoner by Russian forces.

Then, on March 25, Hrybov and his comrades were freed in exchange for many members of a Russian ship who had been taken by Ukraine after their ship had been sunk.

Now, the guy who was supposed to have been slain on the first day of Russia’s invasion has returned home to Cherkasy, where he was honored today by the region’s governor with a medal for his valor in the face of Russian aggression.

Hrybov, dressed in olive fatigues and sporting a military-style close shave, was shown getting his medal from Cherkasy’s Regional State Administration’s chief, Igor Taburets, in a video posted earlier today.

‘I want to say a big thank you to the Ukrainian people for such support,’ Hrybov said following the award.

‘We strongly feel this support, it inspires us.’

A beaming Taburets said: ‘I think that Ukraine should really know its heroes and Cherkasy should know its heroes.’

‘The most important thing is that he survived, in spite of moral pressure, in spite of everything, and he will be an example for our Ukrainians and the people of Cherkasy.’

For many people throughout the world, Hrybov’s pledge of defiance on the first day of Russia’s invasion of his country remains one of the most memorable events of the battle.

It was also a rallying cry for Ukrainians in the early days of the conflict, and Hrybov’s remarks were immortalized on a commemorative stamp issued by the Ukrainian postal service.

The soldier was assigned to a tiny security unit stationed on Snake Island in the Black Sea, not far from Romania’s coast.

When the Russian battleship Vasily Byko, one of two vessels involved in the raid, radioed the island in the early hours of the Russian invasion, they were defending the territory.

The radio message said: ‘This is Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed.’

The Ukrainian guards were facing virtually certain death because they had no means of defense or escape, but one of them, now identified as Hrybov, took up the microphone and said forcefully, “Russian battleship, go f*** yourself!”

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