Reports claim Ukrainian Combat Engineer, Vitaliy Skakun Volodymyrovych, volunteered for a dangerous mission to rig a bridge with explosives.

The bridge, which connected mainland Ukraine to Russian occupied Crimea, was a key piece of infrastructure that Russian forces planned to use reach the mainland. Volodymyrovych had already emplaced his payload of mines, but did not have time to set a timed fuse, or find cover, by the time Russian troops closed on his position.

Prior to detonation, the Ukrainian Marine, communicated to his unit that he was going to blow the bridge in place. The bridge exploded instantly following his last communication. Volodymyrovych is credited by the General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces for “significantly slowing the advance of the enemy”.

Ukrainian military leadership have already began discussing posthumously awarding Volodymyrovych with high honors for his actions. Volodymyrovych’s decision forced Russian troops to take a much longer route through the Kherson province and afforded Ukrainian ground forces the time they needed to re-direct their defenses appropriately.

In response to this act of heroism, one Ukrainian official made a statement to Russian forces: “Know that the ground will burn under your feet.”

Ukraine now claims that since Russian invaded, they have “lost over 2,800 personnel, 17 planes and [helicopters], 80 tanks, and more than 500 vehicles.