[ad_1]
Ukrainian troops raised the Ukrainian flag on Snake Island, a strategic and symbolic outpost in the Black Sea, where Russian troops retreated last week after months of heavy bombardment.
“The military operation is over, … the territory, Snake Island, has been returned to Ukraine,” Natalia Khumenyuk, spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern military command, told reporters.
Ukraine has seen control of the island as a key step in easing Moscow’s blockade of its southern ports.
However, it is unclear whether the Ukrainian army will seek to re-establish a permanent presence there, as it faces dangerous bombing.
On Sunday, a military official told the Guardian that the Black Sea area around Snake Island remains a “grey area”, meaning the Ukrainians are technically not planning to bring their troops back.
Snake Island became known internationally when Russia first occupied it in February.A Ukrainian soldier stationed on the island tells of an attacking Russian warship “fuck yourself”which later became one of the most popular slogans of resistance in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Post Office issued a stamp showing a Ukrainian soldier handing over his finger to the Russian cruiser Moskva, which was later sunk. Ukrainian forces have attempted to retake it several times since Russian control.
Russia claimed Thursday’s withdrawal from the island was a “goodwill gesture” to show it was not hindering the UN’s attempt to open a humanitarian corridor to allow food shipments from Ukraine.
On Friday, Russia launched a military attack on the town of Shershivka near Odessa, which Ukrainian authorities interpreted as retaliation against Russian troops. Forced to leave Snake Island the day before.
At least 21 people, including two children, were killed in the attack after two Russian missiles hit a multi-story apartment building and a recreation center.
“The occupiers cannot win on the battlefield, so they resort to the vile killing of civilians,” said Ivan Bakanov, head of the Ukrainian security service SBU. “After driving the enemy out of Snake Island, [they] It was decided to respond with cynical shelling of civilian targets. “
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that while the withdrawal would not guarantee security in the Black Sea region, it would “significantly limit” Russia’s activities in the region. “Step by step, we will push [Russia] Leave our oceans, our lands, our skies,” he said.
Kyiv on Saturday accused Russia of dropping incendiary white phosphorus on Snake Island. Ukrainian personnel were not present at the time of the attack and, according to military experts, the Russians used it to burn weapons and ammunition that had been left there before the retreat.
[ad_2]
Source link