Russian warship, go fuck yourself

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"Russian warship go fuck yourself!", billboard in Russian language in Dnipro, Ukraine

"Russian warship, go fuck yourself"[a] (Russian: Русский военный корабль, иди нахуй) was the last communication made by Roman Gribov, who was stationed on Snake Island on 24 February 2022 during the Russian attack on the island. The phrase, and derivations of the phrase, became widely adopted, both online and offline, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] On 12 March 2022, the phrase was commemorated in a postage stamp by Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian postal service.[4] Gribov later applied to trademark the slogan.[5]

Background[edit]

On 24 February 2022, two Russian warships began an assault on Snake Island, a Ukrainian island located in the Black Sea. Being a small island with only a single village, populated by fewer than 30 people, only a small contingent of 13 border guards were stationed on the island at the time of the attack. During the onslaught, one of the Russian warships taking part in the siege of the island called on the soldiers to surrender in exchange for safety, at which point, the defenders agreed to curtly decline the offer, and responded with the remark. Subsequently, Snake Island was captured by the Russian naval forces, and the thirteen soldiers defending it were thought to have been killed in the Russian assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he would "posthumously" award the soldiers on Snake Island with the highest Ukrainian honour, the Hero of Ukraine.[6][7][8][9]

On 28 February 2022, the Ukrainian Navy posted on its Facebook page that all the border guards of the island were thought to be alive and detained by the Russian Navy.[10][11]

Reception[edit]

Rally in support of Ukraine in Columbus, Ohio, using the phrase (26 February 2022)

Recordings of the exchange became widely circulated on the internet and quickly went viral on various social media platforms, and it has since become a rallying cry by both the Ukrainian military and civilians protesting the invasion.[12]

The Week compared the phrase to "Remember the Alamo" from the 19th century Texas Revolution.[13] The phrase also has been compared to the Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, when the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Mehmed IV asked for the surrender of the Zaporozhian Cossacks (who lived in modern Central Ukraine), who refused, answering with a profanity-laden letter.[14] US Senator Ben Sasse mentioned the phrase while speaking on the Senate floor on 28 February: "One Ukrainian after conversing with some of his colleagues a little bit on a recording that many who may have now heard, decided to turn up the volume and he announced, 'Russian warship, idi nakhuy'. [...] That is now the rallying cry of the Ukrainian resistance".[15]

Andrew Keen writing in the Literary Hub noted that as a result of the slogan, "Even the f-word had been weaponized" and that it was now a "popular internet meme of resistance to the Russian invasion".[3] The Washington Post said that "Ukraine is fighting back, one swear word at a time".[16]

Continued use[edit]

The phrase on a sign in a protest

On 26 February 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces blew up a railroad junction connecting Ukrainian and Russian railways to prevent the Russian army from transporting military equipment and personnel into Ukraine by rail. When the Russian military asked Ukraine to restore the junction for humanitarian reasons, the Ukrainian dispatcher shot back, "Russian train, go fuck yourself!".[17]

On 27 February 2022, a Russian ship approached a Georgian oil tanker asking for fuel. The latter replied "Russian ship, go fuck yourself" (русский корабль, иди нахуй). When the Russians complained that they were almost out of fuel, they were told to use their oars.[18][19]

On 7 March 2022, the Russian ship Vasily Bykov, which previously successfully attacked Snake Island and was approaching Odessa, was allegedly hit by Ukrainian defense forces. They celebrated with "we fucking hit them!" and "Russian ship, go fuck yourself."[20] However, on 16 March 2022, Vasily Bykov was seen entering Sevastopol with no damage visible.[21]

In March 2022, Ukrainian band Botashe released a song titled "PNH" (Ukrainian: ПНХ), which predominantly features the phrase.[22]

Commemorative stamp[edit]

On 1 March 2022, Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian postal service, launched a stamp design competition on the theme of the phrase.[23][24] On 12 March 2022, the First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova announded that artist Borys Grokh's work won the popular vote of Ukrposhta for the sketch for the stamp.[4][25] Fact-checking site Snopes said that Grokh had lived in Yevpatoria in the Crimea all his life and was studying to be an artist, but as a result of the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, he was forced to leave his home and had moved to Kyiv and later to Lviv.[26] Snopes quoted that Ukrposhta encouraged Ukranians to send the same to their "friends abroad or send a fiery "hello" to the Russians".[26]

Trademarking[edit]

On 17 March 2022, World Trademark Review (WTR) reported that lawyers for Gribov, through his family and the Ukrainian military, had filed for an EU trademark for the slogan in both Cyrillic script and in English.[5] The lawyers told WTR that it was needed to respond to hostile filings by clothing companies in the United States and in Lithuania who were also seeking to trademark the slogan.[5] Techdirt commented that it was a "depressing coda to an otherwise inspiring story", but that the fact that the slogan had reached meme status from which others were profiting had likely changed the situation.[27]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Russian: Русский военный корабль, иди нахуй, tr. Rússkiy voyénniy korábl, idí náhuy, literally "Russian military ship, get fucked"),[1] Ukrainian: Російський військовий корабель, іди нахуй[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Герои мема "Русский военный корабль, иди на..." с острова Змеиный живы, но взяты в плен". BBC News Russian (in Russian). BBC World Service. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ^ Clapp, Alexander (11 March 2022). "Fighters with Ukraine's foreign legion are being asked to sign indefinite contracts. Some have refused". The Economist. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b Keen, Andrew (4 March 2022). ""Go Fuck Yourself." On Putin's Propaganda and the Week in Ukrainian Resistance". Literary Hub. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Michael, Chris (12 March 2022). "Ukraine reveals 'Russian warship, go fuck yourself' postage stamp". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Lince, Tim (17 March 2022). "Ukrainian Snake Island soldier seeks trademark for iconic phrase, as major brand challenges grow in Russia". World Trademark Review. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ Romanenko, Valentina (25 February 2022). "Русский корабль, иди на х.й!": захисники Зміїного відповіли ворогові ["Russian ship, go fuck yourself!": Defenders of the Serpent responded to the enemy]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). OCLC 1066371688. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. ^ Balmforth, Tom (25 February 2022). Trevelyan, Mark; Jones, Gareth (eds.). "'Russian warship, go fuck yourself': Kyiv to honour troops killed on island". Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022. Texas has "Remember the Alamo!" Ukraine now has "Russian warship, go f--k yourself!" — or "Go f--k yourself!" for short. Those were the final words a group of 13 Ukrainian border guards relayed to a Russian battleship that had ordered them to surrender. The guards were stationed on Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island), a strategically important rock in the Black Sea.
  8. ^ "Ukraine soldiers told Russian officer 'go fuck yourself' before they died on island". The Guardian. 25 February 2022. eISSN 1756-3224. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ Campione, Katie (25 February 2022). "'Go Fuck Yourself': Ukrainian Soldiers Celebrated as Viral Heroes for Last Words to Russian Warship". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  10. ^ Стосовно дій РФ біля острову Зміїний [Regarding the actions of the Russian Federation near Snake Island]. Ukrainian Navy. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022 – via Facebook. Щодо морських піхотинців та прикордордонників, яких взяли в полон російські окупанти на острові Зміїний. Ми дуже раді дізнатися про те, що наші побратими живі і з ними все добре! [As for the Marines and frontier guards captured by the Russian occupiers on Snake Island. We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well!][self-published source?]
  11. ^ "Ukrainian Navy confirms Snake Island soldiers are alive, POWs". The Jerusalem Post. 28 February 2022. ISSN 0021-597X. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  12. ^ Murdock, Sebastian (12 March 2022). "Ukraine Unveils New Stamp Based Off 'Russian Warship, Go F**ck Yourself' Audio". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  13. ^ Weber, Peter. "How 'Russian warship, go f—k yourself' became Ukraine's 'Remember the Alamo!'". The Week. ISSN 1533-8304. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ Burns, Peter (1 March 2022). "The Ukraine War Explained: Why Ukrainians And Russians Are Different". Lessons from History. Medium. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  15. ^ Sasse, Ben (28 February 2022). "Sasse: Tell Ukraine's Story, Arm These Heroes" (Press Release). Ben Sasse: U.S. Senator for Nebraska (Press release). Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  16. ^ Bonos, Lisa (4 March 2022). "Ukraine is fighting back, one swear word at a time". Washington Post. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  17. ^ Petrenko, Roman (26 February 2022). "Російський поїзд, йди на х*й!": усі залізничні вузли з Росією знищені ["Russian train, go f**k yourself!": All railway junctions with Russia destroyed]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). OCLC 1066371688. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ Varga, John (27 February 2022). "'Go f*** yourself!' Captain refuses to fuel Russian ship in Ukraine solidarity act - VIDEO". Daily Express. OCLC 173337077. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  19. ^ Ankel, Sophia. "The captain of an oil tanker refused to refuel a Russian ship to protest Ukraine's invasion. The crew is 'very proud,' his wife says". Business Insider. OCLC 1076392313. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  20. ^ Ruiz, Michael (8 March 2022). "Ukraine says it sank the Russian warship that attacked Snake Island: 'We f------ hit them!'". Fox News. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  21. ^ ""Потопленный" Украиной корабль ЧФ России вошел в бухту Севастополя". ridus.ru (in Russian). 16 March 2022.
  22. ^ Песни сопротивления. Артемий Троицкий – об украинском гневе [Songs of Resistance. Artemy Troitsky on Ukrainian anger]. Radio Liberty (in Russian). Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Ukrposhta announced an All-Ukrainian popular competition for the development of the sketch of the postage stamp "Russian warship, fuck you!"" (Press release). Ukrposhta. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022. On March 1, on the 30th anniversary of the modern Ukrainian stamp, Ukrposhta announced an All-Ukrainian popular competition for the development of the sketch of the postage stamp "Russian warship, fuck you!
  24. ^ Casiano, Louis (1 March 2022). "Ukraine announces postage stamp creation contest; examples include image of Zelenskyy spanking Putin". Fox News. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022. The Ukrainian Postal Service, or Ukrposhta, said it was celebrating its 30-plus years by replacing its "All-Ukrainian People's Contest" with the best sketch of a postal stamp called "Russian military ship, go on."
  25. ^ Cohen, Rebecca (8 March 2022). "Ukraine's postal service announces it'll release a commemorative 'Russian warship, go f#ck yourself' stamp". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  26. ^ a b Evon, Dan (17 March 2022). "Does Ukraine Stamp Design Commemorate 'Russian Warship, Go F*ck Yourself' Moment?". Snopes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  27. ^ Geigner, Timothy (18 March 2022). "Ukrainian Soldier Moves To Trademark 'Russian Warship, Go Fuck Yourself" Because Of Course". Techdirt.

External links[edit]

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