In some good news coming out of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Ukrainian border guard who radioed back to a Russian ship's order to surrender early in the invasion of Ukraine by telling it "Russian warship, go fuck yourself," has been released from captivity and been awarded a medal for his service:
"Roman Hrybov, the author of the famous 'Russian Warship, Go F*** Yourself' phrase, returned from Russian captivity to his native Cherkasy region,' Ukraine's defense ministry tweeted on Tuesday. 'Glory to the Hero!'
Thirteen Ukrainian State Border Guard Service members were stationed on the tiny Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea, known in English as Snake Island, on February 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Aa apparent audio exchange quickly spread online of a Russian warship near Snake Island ordering the men to surrender via radio. One of the island's defenders, now identified as Hrybov, could be heard responding, 'Russian warship, go fuck yourself.' [snip]
Hrybov was given an award for his services to the Cherkasy region, according to a government video of the interaction posted to YouTube on Tuesday."
The 13 border guards on Snake Island were first believed to have been killed by the Russians, but they were taken captive instead.
The insult has received such positive and widespread attention it won't surprise you that t-shirts and other merch can be found with the phrase on them. His phrase has also appeared on billboards across Ukraine, and has been immortalized in a postage stamp released by the Ukrainian Postal Service showing a border guard giving a Russian warship the finger:
(photo: Hrybov receiving his medal)
