Snake Island soldiers who told Russians to ‘go on their own’ could LIVE after fears they were wiped out by rockets

UKRAINIAN soldiers presumed dead after telling the Russians to “find yourselves” may still be alive.

Thirteen indomitable border guards were tasked with protecting Zmiinyi or Snake – Island in the Black Sea from Russian invaders.

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The bravery of the border guards capture the imagination of the world with many who showed courage in the face of death.

But in a new twist to the extraordinary story, it has now been revealed that the border guards may in fact still be alive.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Ukraine’s State Border Guard said it had “strong belief that all defenders of the Ukrainian island of Zmiinyi may be alive”.

The force explained that information about the soldiers killed came before they lost contact.

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The Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently trying to determine the location of their colleagues, the State Border Guard said.

Drama unfolded when the border guard received a message: “This is a warship of the Russian army.

“I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed.”

But the Ukrainian army firmly refused to give up the territory and replied: “Go on your own!”

According to reports, the Russians heard swear words at it, it is assumed that all 13 were subsequently massacred in an air strike.

A macabre video has revealed what is believed to be the last moments of soldiers before they were killed in a hail of missiles from a Russian warship.

A guard can be heard saying, “They’re trying to scare us, or what? Nothing has been destroyed so far.

“I couldn’t understand what they were doing, most likely trying to scare us. They attacked the rocks.”

The deaths were later acknowledged by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

And Ukraine’s Interior Ministry confirmed Snake Island – also known as Zmiinyi – was attacked by Russian troops.

Later, Russia claimed the men were not killed in the ambush.

Photos released by the Russians show what they say are Ukrainians, who once protected Snake Island, in captivity.

About a dozen photos were released showing the men boarding the bus, given bottled water and food packages, before being shown taking their seats.

Russia has even said that the men will be released and allowed to return to their families.

It is unknown if the people in the photo are actually 13 who may still be alive.

Snake Island is under Ukrainian rule, but it is only a few miles off the coast of Romania.

This tiny island is of strategic importance as its demise would allow Russia to claim territorial waters that stretch 12 nautical miles out to sea.

Russia will be able to cut off the main shipping channels – isolating Ukraine from international markets and starving the economy of its commercial revenue.

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