Ukrainian Marine blows himself up, destroying bridge to slow Russian advance

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.

Google translation of the statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:

“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 engineer of a separate battalion sailor Skakun Vitaliy Volodymyrovich was called to perform this task. The bridge was replaced, but he didn’t have time to get out of there. According to the words of the brothers, Vitaliy came out of contact, and informed about what pídrivâ the bridge. There was an explosion right away. Our brother was killed. His heroic act significantly slowed down the push of the enemy, allowing the unit to relocate and organize defense.

The Marine Corps Command will be concerned before the higher command about the awarding of the Skakun sailor Vitaliy Volodymyrovich state award.

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!”