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Footage of lone man trying to block Russian convoy hailed as Kyiv's Tiananmen Moment

As brutal fighting enters the Ukrainian capital, one heroic defender attempts to thwart Russian tank advance, but to little avail

With day three of the Ukrainian invasion now underway, the internet is filled with stories of heroic acts by the defenders. With little support from the west, Ukraine has been forced to largely fend for itself led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite requests, Zelenskyy has chosen to stay in Kyiv and take up arms, helping defend his country from Russia.

He isn't however the only brave hero to emerge from the bloody and brutal conflict. Earlier, we reported on 'The Ghost of Kyiv', a fighter pilot who downed six Russian jets in two days of the war. On February 24, one Ukrainian soldier was also caught telling two Russian warships to "go f--k yourselves", before being bombed on Snake Island. The very next day, we reported on Vitali Shakun, a Ukrainian soldier who blew himself up on a bridge in Crimea, to prevent Russian tanks from crossing. 

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That bravery is not just limited to members of the military, but also the general public. Not only have thousands of ordinary Ukrainians taken up arms in the conflict, but they've gone above and beyond to help defend their country in various ways, including by attacking Russian forces with Molotov cocktails. On February 25, another heartwarming story has now emerged reportedly from Kherson, in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine's Tiananmen moment

Social media footage uploaded on February 25 shows a column of Russian tanks driving down the road in Kherson, near Crimea. At one point, they are forced to abruptly zigzag, as they come in front of a man on the road. Undeterred, the man appears to be moving from side to side of the road, in an attempt to stop the tanks from crossing. Unfortunately, it appears he could do little, as the tanks simply swerve around him, but miraculously don't crush him.

The viral video was first shared by Ukrainian news outlet HB, which tweeted, "Ukrainian rushes under enemy equipment so that the occupiers do not pass."

The video has since sparked comparisons to China's Tiananmen Square massacre, in which one brave Chinese man (dubbed 'Tank man') stood in front of a column of tanks with his shopping bag. Tragically he was crushed, but the iconic image has since become a symbol for defying authoritarianism and was even named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential photos of all time.

'Somebody get that man an AK'

Those similarities were quickly made by social media users, who tweeted things like, "Ukraine’s tank man. Pure courage," and "The 13 soldiers of snake island, Tank Man, the Ghost of Kyiv… The people of #Ukraine is different, they are heroes." A third declared, "this is why russian invaders in ukraine are f-----g doomed."

"Ukraine’s version of Tiananmen Square’s ‘tank man’. Incredible bravery," one person tweeted. Another said, "An unarmed Ukrainian tries to stop Russian military trucks. Tiananmen Square moment." One person replied, "Somebody get that man an AK!." Another said, "This is what hero’s look like."