A Ukrainian defender gave up his life to blow up a bridge and stop Russia’s advance. Now, Prague has named a bridge after him.

by UNITED24Media

44 comments

  1. Vitalii played a crucial role in the early hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion by destroying the Henichesk bridge in southern Ukraine. He was a dedicated soldier and wanted to give his comrades a chance to retreat to safer positions. He had a family he wanted to protect above all else. And of course, he fought to stop the enemy’s advance with all his strength.

    In Prague, a bridge has been named after him. His legacy remains a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance in the early days of the invasion.

  2. He is a true hero in the most literal sense. As selfless and heroic as a person can get. Bless the man and his family.

  3. Rip heroe sacrifice is the ultimate way to show what do you believe in.

  4. I think about this guy constantly since I first read about this at the start of the war. I guess the sacrifice, and ultimate escalation of the war makes it so much more tragic and memorable.

    It’s nice to see that he left such an impression on other countries as well.

  6. He did not go gentle into that good night. Rest easy, soldier.

  8. The bridge in Prague is at the end of the street named “Ukrajinských hrdinů” which translates to Ukrainian heroes.

    Fun fact, this street where the Russian embassy is located. So their address is literally Ukrainian heroes. We really don’t like the Russian dictatorship here in the Czech Republic.

  9. I actually remember that happening. Very sorry he was forced into that position by Putin. Not fare.

  10. I will buy the person the moon and 2 cases of beer that gives the same treatment to the Kerch bridge.

  13. Heroyam Slava. Rest easy, warrior. Your sacrifice and courage is beyond a common man’s understanding… and it’s because of your sacrifice that we are allowed to live in such ignorance of hell.

  15. Hesitation is Defeat.Truly impressiv Man. Rest in Peace.

  17. I believe I read about it before. But again gives me goosebumps. It’s like a movie. Good to see he is being honored properly.

  18. I remember when this happened. It got lost in the tidal wave of horrific stories from Russia’s rape of humanity. but I remember it. What a fuckin hero.

  21. Heroes.
    Feel lame when that is all I can post, but I mean it with all my heart.
    Best of luck to all those serving and their families.

  22. Same place the russians were told to stuff sunflower seeds in their pockets. These heros really set the tempo for the war 

  23. I remember this story from the beginning of ruZZias invasion. What a HERO. I cannot say I would of done the same, probably not, so I give my upmost respect to this HERO

  26. This one guy gave Ukraine time to mount a defence big enough to stop Russia before they land locked Ukraine. Absolute Hero.
    Slava Ukraine

  28. I remembered seeing his camera footage of his final moments. Just took a car out there a blew it up along with the bridge section!

  29. Vitaliy Skakun, a 25-year-old soldier of the 137th Marine Battalion, was the only one who managed to blow up 1 of the 13 bridges, dams, and roads planned to be blown up from Crimea at 6.00 on February 24, 2022 and became the first Hero of Ukraine to be awarded for his feat during a full-scale invasion.

    The history of the feat, told by his comrades in the report Iryna Storozhenko, shows why some bridges from Crimea were not blown up and why the enemy seized the south almost unhindered:
    [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zDeVj7dRoL4](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zDeVj7dRoL4)

    And I will make a short summary:

    1. The main means of mining was planned to roll trailers with explosives onto the bridges, electric detonation through unwinded wire. This can be done only in one case – when the enemy does not fire and does not attack this bridge. That is, before the enemy began the attack. For unknown reasons, the bridges were not prepared for remote detonation.

    2. The order to blow up the bridge over the Arabatska Strelka near Genichesk came to the Skakun and his brother Oleksandr Tkach at about 4.00 on 24.02 after the start of the Russian shelling. The machines with the trailer were able to arrive at the place only at 6.00, when the enemy offensive went in all directions. But the Russians have not yet reached this bridge. Therefore, the Skakun and Tkach managed to install the trailer and deploy the detonation system.

    3. The electric detonation failed for unknown reasons, and the sappers did not give a spare wire. Therefore, to complete the task, sailor Vitaliy Skakun took a spare mechanical detonator, went to the bridge and blew up one of the tracks of the bridge with his own hands, at the cost of his death.

    4. Obviously, the order to blow up the bridges was not given in time when the trailers could be deployed without interference at the points specified in the plan. And the bridges were not blown up, because it was impossible to expel on trailers during the attack. The commanders on the ground tried to blow up the bridges when it was too late.

    5. The responsibility for not blowing up the bridges lies with the military and political leadership, which did not give a timely order and did not impose martial law to allow the military to act on their own.

    6. The Russian command had full information about the plan to blow up bridges, about the procedure and organization of our troops’ actions, since all this was under the control of the head of the Anti-Terrorist Center of the SBU Department in the Kherson region, Colonel Igor Sadokhin, who is currently detained and under investigation as an agent of the special services of the Russian Federation.

    7. Vitaly had time to think, he could report that the task could not be completed, he could go looking for a new wire, he could find a lot of reasons… But then the enemy columns would move unhindered across the bridge. And so Vitaliy Skakun carried out the order, knowingly sacrificing himself for the sake of his comrades and for the freedom of the people of Ukraine. Eternal glory to the Hero!

  35. I recall the post about his selfless act to buy time for his comrades and if IIRC there was a brief video clip of him going towards the bridge.

    Slava hurry, slava Ukraiņi.

  36. Hate russia for stealing the lifes of the bravest men and women of Ukraine 🔱🕯️🇺🇦

  38. i remember reading about this when this happened and seeing the video footages of some bridge explosion, that they didnt have any remote detonators and thats why Vitalii did go with the bridge

  39. I will never forgive or forget what Russians have done. May we all also remember Vitalli and all the Ukrainian heroes.

  41. Way to go Pargue. These are the people that need to be remembered, their actions and sacrifices cherished. Rest in peace hero

Comments are closed.