Heroic Ukrainian marine blows himself up with bridge to hold off Russian troops at Crimea and ‘significantly slows down’ the enemy
- Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in Kherson when Russians advanced
- His group decided to blow it up to stop them – he had not time to escape, so detonated the explosives while in the blast zone
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted an account of his heroism on Facebook on Friday
- Ukrainians have vowed to fight until the death
- President Zelensky has offered anyone who wants to fight a firearm and has told them to use Molotov cocktails against Russians
- At least 137 people died on the first day of fighting in Ukraine but the death toll is feared to be significantly higher
A heroic Ukrainian marine blew himself up along with a bridge in Crimea on Thursday to hold off advancing Russian troops and allow his battalion to regroup and redeploy.
Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Russians advanced.
According to a post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Facebook page, the battalion decided the only way to stop them was to blow up the bridge.
It was mined, but he had no time to get out.
Shakun texted them and told them he was going to blow up the bridge. Seconds later, they heard an explosion, the post said.
Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Russians advanced. According to a post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Facebook page, the battalion decided the only way to stop them was to blow up the bridge
A post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Facebook page detailed his heroic efforts
The Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region at the Crimean crossing which the Ukrainian forces said was a key area of defense
The destroyed bridge on Thursday after the heroic soldier blew it up
His efforts dramatically slowed down the Russian advance and allowed his comrades to regroup and re-deploy.
He is believed to be among the at least 137 people who died on the first day of the war yesterday.
‘On this difficult day for our country, when the Ukrainian people are repelling the Russian occupiers in all directions, one of the most difficult places on the map of Ukraine was the Crimean Isthmus, where a separate battalion of marines met one of the first enemies.
‘To stop the advance of the tank column, it was decided to blow up the Genichesky road bridge.
Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Skakun, an engineer of a separate battalion, volunteered to perform this task. The bridge was mined, but he did not have time to leave.
‘According to the brothers, Vitaliy got in touch and said that he was blowing up the bridge. An explosion was heard immediately. Our brother died.
‘His heroic deed significantly slowed the advance of the enemy, which allowed the unit to redeploy and organize the defense,’ a translation of the post reads.
He will be given posthumous awards for his bravery, the post said.
Ukrainian troops and civilians are fighting to the death to stop Putin’s army.
President Zelensky yesterday told the country that he would give a firearm to anyone who wanted one and was willing to stay and fight.
Citizens are being told to use Molotov cocktails to fight the enemy.
Dozens of them were pictured signing up to join defense teams all over the country last night in photos shared by Ukrainian MP Andrii Osandchuk.
President Zelensky this morning shamed President Biden for ‘looking on from a distance’ while Putin stormed his country.
Biden and the West have imposed severe economic sanctions but they have not joined in any physical conflict.
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