Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Facebook
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukrainesaid on social mediaon Friday, according to a translation, that one of the country’s soldiers had detonated a bridge — killing himself in the process — in an effort to prevent Russian tanks from advancing.
The military said Volodymyrovich was in a battalion working to stop a column of Russian tanks at the Henichesk bridge in the area of Kherson and that Volodymyrovich was the one who agreed to destroy the mined bridge.
“He didn’t manage to get away from there. According to his brothers in arms, Vitaly got in touch and said he was going to blow up the bridge. Immediately after an explosion rang out,” officials said, per the translation.
“On this difficult day for our country, when the Ukrainian people give away to the Russian occupiers in all directions, one of the hardest places on the map of Ukraine was the Crimean intersection, where one of the first enemies met a separate marine battalion. In order to stop the promotion of the tank column, a decision was made to overthrow the Geniche Car Bridge,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook.
“Our brother was killed. His heroic act significantly slowed down the push of the enemy, allowing the unit to relocate and organize defense,” the statement continued.
The Ukrainian army officials added: “Russian invaders, know, under your feet the earth will burn! We will fight as long as we live! And as long as we are alive we will fight!”
YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images
On social media others referred to Volodymyrovich as a hero and praised him.
One user wrote, “G O D! Take him into your arms! Eternal memory and honor, warrior!”
Another commented, “Eternal memory to the fallen hero!!!!Sincere condolences to the family Your son is a hero!!!
Russia began a long-feared invasion of Ukraine earlier this week, according to the Ukraine government, with forces moving from the north, east and south.
Numerous residents have been seen trying to flee. “We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?” one 64-year-old woman living in Kyiv told the Associated Press.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the interest of so-called “peacekeeping.”
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Ukraine’s president,Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said early Friday local time that137 people had been killedand 316 were wounded,according toreports.
Many of those killed appear to be soldiers, per the AP, citing earlier figures that 40 Ukrainian soldiers were among the dead.
However, there were also reports of civilians who were killed,including at leastone young child. NBC News reported the figures also include medical staff.
PresidentJoe Bidensaid in a White Housespeech Thursdayhe was imposing even more severe economic punishments on Russia but would be deploying troops only in support of NATO countries, not Ukraine. He said the U.S. would support Ukraine in other ways.
source: people.com
