Defiant patriot blocks Russian tanks along road in southern Ukraine

Thirty-three years after a Chinese patriot stopped a column of tanks in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, footage has emerged of a defiant Ukrainian man risking his life by trying to block a convoy of armored vehicles in southern Ukraine.  

In a 28-second video posted on social media by Ukrainian HB, a woman can be heard gasping from behind her camera as an unidentified man attempts to block a convoy of Russian vehicles – forcing one driver to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting him.

✊🏻Українець кидається під ворожу техніку, щоб окупанти не проїхали pic.twitter.com/cZ29kknqhB

— НВ (@tweetsNV) February 25, 2022

The dramatic scene went viral on Friday, prompting many viewers to draw a comparison between the brave Ukrainian man and the Chinese protestors from so many years ago. The legendary Tiananmen Square image was taken on June 5, 1989 as the Chinese Communist Party was in the midst of a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests and has since become a symbol of defiance in the face of tyranny and authoritarianism.

But the courageous man was not alone in standing up against the Russian bear.  

According to Ukrainian officials, at least 137 Ukrainians have died in the first two days since Russia invaded and hundreds of others have been wounded -- often while fighting to defend their families and their homeland.

Meanwhile, since the invasion began, Russia has lost more than 3,500 troops, 14 airplanes, eight helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 armed vehicles, 15 heavy machine guns and one BUK missile.

“More than 40 hours of resisting Russian occupiers prove that we have the strongest army in Europe and a fearless people,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. “Ukrainians are now fighting for the future that they deserve. For themselves and for all of Europe.”