The Ukrainian soldier who famously made a swearword-laden declaration of defiance over near certain death amid the Russian attack on Snake Island has been awarded a Citizen’s Medal.
Roman Hrybov, a border guard on the island, boldly told a Russian warship heading for his position on the first day of the invasion to “piss off,” even though he had no means of escape.
It was feared he was dead along with 12 other guards when the warship rained fire on the island, but days later it turned out that the group had miraculously survived and were captured by Russian forces.
Then, on March 25, Hrybov and his comrades were released from captivity in exchange for several members of a Russian ship that had been hijacked by Ukraine after their ship was sunk.
Now the man who was once believed to have been killed on the first day of the Russian invasion is back home in the city of Cherkasy and was today awarded a medal by the region’s chief for his bravery in the face of Russian aggression.
Hrybov’s now infamous phrase has become one of Ukraine’s main symbols of patriotism and resistance, and has been shared online by millions.
Ukrainian soldier Roman Hrybov, whose viral declaration of defiance in the face of near certain death when a Russian warship attacked Ukraine’s Snake Island was awarded a Citizen’s Medal.
Now the man who was once believed to have been killed on the first day of the Russian invasion is back home in the city of Cherkasy and was today awarded a medal by the region’s chief for his bravery in the face of Russian aggression
A civilian medal presented to Hrybov by Igor Taburets, head of the Cherkassy regional administration
Roman Hrybov, a border guard on Snake Island (pictured), boldly told a Russian warship heading toward his position on the first day of the invasion to fuck off, even though he had no means of escape
A video released today by the Cherkasy Regional State Administration showed Hrybov, dressed in olive-colored uniforms with a military-style clean shave, gratefully accepting his award from the head of the Regional Administration, Igor Taburets.
“I would like to say a big thank you to the Ukrainian people for this support,” said Hrybov after the award.
“We feel this support very much, it inspires us.”
A beaming Taburets said: “I think that Ukraine should really know its heroes and Cherkassy should know its heroes.”
“The most important thing is that he survived, despite moral pressure, despite everything, and he will be a role model for our Ukrainians and the people of Cherkassy.”
Hrybov’s declaration of defiance on the first day of Russia’s invasion of his country is one of the most iconic moments of the conflict for many around the world.
It also became a rallying cry for Ukrainians in the early days of the war, and Hrybov’s words were immortalized on a commemorative stamp by the Ukrainian Post Office.
The soldier was part of a small contingent of guards stationed on Snake Island in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast.
They were defending territory in the early hours of the Russian invasion when the Russian warship Vasily Byko, one of two ships involved in the attack, radioed the island and said, “This is a Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary casualties. Otherwise you will be bombed.’
With no means of defense or escape, the Ukrainian guards faced almost certain death, but one of them, now revealed to be Hrybov, grabbed the microphone and replied emphatically: “Russian warship – fuck off!”
Hrybov’s declaration of defiance on the first day of Russia’s invasion of his country is one of the most iconic moments of the conflict for many around the world (Hrybov pictured receiving his medal).
Ukraine’s parliament confirmed that sailors captured after telling the Russian military to “damn themselves” over the radio while defending a small island in the Black Sea were freed in a prisoner exchange with Moscow
The 13 border guards on the island were believed to have died in the bombardment that followed their message of resistance, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even announced that they would be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Days later, however, it turned out that the soldiers had survived the attack and were captured instead.
A month after the start of the war, Hrybov and his comrades were returned to Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine’s parliament confirmed last week that the guards, along with several other Ukrainian prisoners, were released in an exchange for 11 Russian sailors captured by a sunken ship.
In a Twitter post, the Ukrainian parliament wrote: “The first exchange of war hostages took place on the orders of President Zelenskyy.
“Moreover, today Ukraine exchanged 11 Russian sailors whom we rescued from a sunken ship near Odessa for 19 Ukrainian sailors (authors of the legendary phrase “Russian warship, fuck yourself”).”