Ukraine takes back Snake Island; Russia says it withdrew for 'goodwill'

Snake Island, whose capture became one of the defining moments in the Ukrainian war, has now been liberated, or as the Russians put it – ceded out of “goodwill”. Why is this rocky outcrop on the Black Sea important and how will the Russian departure help?
In a significant development in the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have withdrawn from the strategically located Snake Island in the Black Sea. Ukraine is marking this as a victory as it says relentless shelling against Russian forces on Zmiinyi (the Ukrainian name for the island) forced its troops to withdraw. Russia claims it retreated out of goodwill – but what is that?
Ukraine’s claims
Ukraine says that the Russians caved to their relentless airstrikes on the island over the last week. It said that it targeted Russian troops stationed on Zmiinyi with missiles and artillery fire. On June 28 (Tuesday) Ukraine military said it succeeded in destroying three anti-aircraft missile systems. These were reportedly installed on the island recently. One crucial radar was knocked out preventing Russians from sending aid to their troops on the island. The last Russians departed on speedboats at night, Ukrainian military said.
Russia’s ‘goodwill’
Russia has tried to paint its exit as a goodwill gesture, claiming that it retreated so that Ukraine would not be able to hold the world’s foodgrains to ransom and pin the blame on Russia.
For months, negotiations were underway to form a safe passage for tonnes of grains sitting in silos in Ukraine. Russia has blockaded several key Ukrainian ports and the cutting off the world from its top supply of foodgrains. This has greatly inflated prices of food and created shortages across the globe, pushing hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in Africa, into starvation.
Russia had said that it would open up routes if sanctions are eased. Alternate routes of transport through Russian-friendly Belarus by road were rejected by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia claims that its departure from Snake Island would clear the way for exports though Western observers say that is unlikely. First, this would require Ukraine to remove defensive mines outside ports which it will not do amidst a raging war, and second, Russians maintain dominance in the Black Sea so passage of Ukrainian ships remains dangerous despite its adversary’s “guarantees”. Both Ukraine and Russia claim the other has set mines afloat in the Black Sea which makes the movement of vessels fraught with risk.
Besides, Ukraine also says that Russia has been attacking its grain storage, dismissing its “goodwill gesture” as a cover-up for military losses.
Why is Snake Island important?
Snake Island stretches just about 700 metres from one end to the other. It is a very small rocky outcrop in the Black Sea lying roughly southwest of the Ukrainian port Odesa, close to Romania’s shores.
Holding Snake Island helped Russia complete the blockade of the last surviving port under Ukrainian control – Odesa. Russia has captured others along the black sea coast including those along the Sea of Azov.
Maintaining troops on the island is not important, security analysts say because it indeed is a small rock. In fact they say any garrison on the island were akin to sitting ducks. It is well within the range of artillery fire from Ukraine (it just lies 35 kms offshore). This is very likely why the Russians packed up and left. It was becoming a logistical nightmare to keep the troops on the island supplied with weapons and ammunition. Any vessel that approached the island exposed itself to Ukrainian airstrikes.
The Russian withdrawal is a relief also for NATO member Romania that lies just to the west of the island. The area is known to have oil and gas reserves too.
Meawhile, Ukraine’s naval capacity is not so advanced and so it has not been able to land troops on the island. It maintains firepower from the shores, which analysts say should be enough to ensure that hostile forces do not again capture the strategically located island.
The legend of Snake Island
Snake Island has become a bit of a legend after it was taken by Russian troops on the first day of the invasion. The capture has become one of the defining memories of the war when Ukrainian forces stationed on the island told the invaders to f*** off when told to surrender.
On February 24, two warships from the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Vasily Bykov and Moskva had attacked Snake Island. Ukraine would succeed in sinking the 600-foot flagship of the Russian fleet Moskvo in April. Russia claimed the Moskva went under due to an accident onboard.
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