KYIV, Ukraine aEUR Russia has declared that it has evacuated its troops stationed at Snake Island, a Ukrainian outpost in Black Sea, which was invaded by Russia in February.
Snake Island, also known by Zmiinyi Island is a strategic outpost on the southern coast Ukraine. It was established in February after Ukrainian soldiers refused to surrender it.
In recent days, the southern Ukrainian forces have been attacking the island to eliminate Russian outposts. Russia’s defense ministry stated that it had left the island in a gesture of goodwill.
After Ukraine claimed it had bombarded the island with artillery overnight, the Russian forces fled.
Valery Zaluzhny (head of Ukraine’s Armed Forces) said that Snake Island was unable to withstand the fire from our artillery and missile strikes.
The Russian withdrawal from Snake Island is a strategic victory for Ukraine and a boost to morale, as Russia is trying more territory in the east.
Russia has blockedade key ports in the Black Sea, which prevented critical foodtuffs like grain from being exported. The Ukrainian control of Snake Island allows the armed forces to displace Russian shipping lanes in Black Sea, and also weaken Russia’s grip on southern Ukrainian land.
In late February, Russia occupied the island. The battle became internationalized when the Russian warship, Moskva, called for Ukrainian soldiers to surrender.
They told the Moskva that “Russian warship, get f— yourself!” After being shared publicly by a spokesperson for the Ukrainian government, it went viral. Ukrainian forces destroyed the Moskva in April.
The Russian occupation briefly held the Ukrainian soldiers stationed at Snake Island, but they were released in March as part a prisoner exchange.
