The Ukrainian government has declared victory over the Russians and pulled out its troops from Snake Island, a tiny rocky island measuring 0.17 km in area. This was four months after it became a symbol for resistance to the Russian invasion. This enclave is of strategic importance for the conflict due to its location and because it provides access to nearby coastal cities as well as shipping routes for world grain supply. It had been under Kremlin control since February. Both sides had announced yesterday that they were withdrawing their forces from Moscow, but with completely different versions.
“Kaboom! Snake Island is now free of Russian troops. “Our Armed Forces did an amazing job,” was the euphoric tweet by Andriy Ermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidency’s office, Volodimir Zelenski. According to the military command of southern Ukraine, Moscow evacuated its garrison after being attacked by “our missile and artillery” units.
The kyiv Army posted a photo to the aforementioned social media network, in which five columns black smoke could be seen rising above the island. This was in order to record the Russian defeat. According to the Department of Military Intelligence of Ukraine, this tiny territory measured 662 meters in length and 440 metres wide. It is roughly the same size as 20 football fields. The Russian military hid three rocket artillery units, five air defense complexes, and special forces units.
The Kremlin’s speech was quite different from kyiv celebrating the fact that it had retaken one of Moscow’s most coveted targets. Igor Konashenkov (spokesman for Russia’s Defense Ministry) stated in Telegram that the withdrawal was a gesture of goodwill and a demonstration that Russia doesn’t intend to stop the export of grain from Ukraine.
After Konanshenkov was accused of taking its grains and contributing towards global food shortages as a result of the blockade maritime of exports, Konanshenkov said that the Kremlin would not permit Kiev to speculate on the topic of the food crisis. The Russian Navy escorted Konanshenkov’s first cargo ship carrying 7,000 tons of grain to the Ukrainian port Berdiansk. This was announced by pro-Russian authorities. Konanshenkov said, “Now the ball’s in Ukraine, which hasn’t yet removed all mines of the Black Sea.”
The West opted for Ukraine’s version of military victory. This was despite the fact that Moscow held the island since February. However, Kyiv claimed that it was becoming more dangerous to the enemy side, sinking supply ships and destroying fortifications. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, was among those who first congratulated himself. He said, “In the end it will not be possible for Putin to subdue any country that doesn’t accept his rule.” This was in Madrid, where the NATO summit is taking place. Soon after, Joe Biden, the US President, stated that Russia had already been dealt a severe blow by Ukraine.
Since the recovery of Snake Island by Ukraine is a significant symbolism, it has been world-famous for the bravery with which it was protected by border guards during the initial hours of the invasion. When they were told to surrender, a guard raised his middle finger over the radio and said “Russian warship go to hell”. This incident was immortalized by a Ukrainian stamp. It was issued on July 1, the same day that the kyiv army sank the same ship, the Moskva’. The vessel had been the flagship for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Moscow’s troops now concentrate their attack on the remaining pockets of resistance in the city Lisichansk. This is the last bastion of Ukrainian forces in the Lugansk Territory, to the east of Ukraine, and one of the main goals of the Kremlin. Although the Russian authorities reported that the refinery was taken from the town, which is one of the most important in the country, Serhiy Hadidai, the governor of Lugansk Ukraine, only confirmed “attacks” on these facilities.
As part of an intensification of the offensive in this region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that they had caused “significant losses to Russian troops” in fighting in recent hours around Bakhmut. of the Donbas.
