To stop the advance of a column of tanks, the Ukrainian army decided to blow up the Henichesk Bridge, near Crimea. Military Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Skakun volunteered to perform that task, the army staff writes on Facebook.
He was able to place the explosives, but he didn’t have time to get away himself. According to his comrades, Vitaliy reported that he would detonate the bridge, after which an explosion could be heard almost immediately. The man died instantly. “His heroic act slowed the enemy’s advance considerably, allowing the unit to rearrange and organize the defences,” it said.
Vitaliy has been called the ‘hero of the moment’ on Facebook and there is already talk of honoring the man posthumously. “Russian occupiers, know that the earth will burn under your feet! We will fight as long as we live! And as long as we live we will fight!”, the army closed the post.