The Russian Defense Ministry announced the withdrawal of troops from Snake Island as a “goodwill step”
Russian troops completed the tasks of a special operation on Zmeiny Island, in connection with this, as a “goodwill step”, a decision was made to withdraw the garrison of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from the island. This was announced to journalists by the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov.
According to him, in this way it was demonstrated to the world community that Russia does not interfere with the actions of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from Ukraine.
This decision will not allow Kyiv to speculate on the topic of the impending food crisis, referring to the impossibility of exporting grain due to Russia’s total control of the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
Konashenkov added that now the word is up to Kyiv, and recalled that Ukraine has not yet cleared the Black Sea coast near its shores, including the port areas.
Serpent has strategic importance
It is explained by the location of the island. According to Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Yuri Shvytkin, Zmeiny is located approximately 35 kilometers from the coast of the Odessa region and a little more than 100 from Odessa.
Not a single ship – here we are talking about Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and so on – will pass by Snake Island. This sea route is under the control of those forces that are located on the island
Shvytkin added that Snake Island is a good place to deploy air defense and electronic warfare equipment. He recalled that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) had repeatedly tried to take possession of the island, but the Russian military did not give the opportunity to create a stronghold there.
Serpentine passed under the control of Russia at the beginning of the special operation
On February 24, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine announced that Kyiv had lost control of the island. President of the country Volodymyr Zelensky arguedthat the defenders of the island died, and posthumously presented them for awards.
Later, Russia reported that 82 fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered, they took a subscription refusing to participate in hostilities. The Ukrainian authorities admitted that the statements about the death of the military at Zmein were fake, only three days later in Kyiv they reported that the military were alive and in captivity.
Ukraine tried to regain control over Serpentine on the eve of Victory Day
On May 9, Konashenkov said that the Russian military had repulsed several attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to seize the island. According to him, since May 7, the General Staff of Ukraine, with the participation of American and British advisers, planned a provocation to seize the island, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried several times to land air and sea assault forces on its territory.
He added that the units of the Russian Armed Forces on the island were able to thwart Kyiv’s provocation, as a result of which the Ukrainian side suffered heavy losses. In total, according to the Ministry of Defense, during the period of repelling attacks in the Zmeinoye area, four Ukrainian aircraft were shot down in the air, including three Su-24s and one Su-27, three Mi-8 helicopters with troops on board, and one Mi-24 helicopter.
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According to RIA News, Zelensky personally gave the order to seize Serpent’s Island by May 9, despite the objections of the Ukrainian General Staff. The source of the agency in the power structures also claimed that the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was conceived by the British security forces.
Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to attack Serpentine after the defeat in May
The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly reported on the reflection of attacks from Ukraine on the island. So, on June 21, the Russian Armed Forces managed to repulse the attack of 15 Ukrainian drones, at the same time, an American Global Hawk RQ-4 drone was seen near Zmein.
On June 26, the Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft and 12 rockets near Zmeiny Island.
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