Infamous Snake Island—Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance—Recaptured From Russia

Breaking Business Infamous Snake Island—Symbol Of Ukrainian Resistance—Recaptured From Russia Brian Bushard Forbes Staff I cover breaking news for Forbes New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Jun 30, 2022, 10:30am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The Ukrainian Navy announced Thursday it recaptured Snake Island, a critical Black Sea outpost taken by Russia early in the war, which has since galvanized Ukrainian resistance as a symbol of fortified defiance. Ukrainian Military Recaptured Snake Island Thursday, a strategic naval outpost that has become a .

. . [+] rallying cry for Ukrainians (Satellite image (c) 2022 Maxar Technologies) DigitalGlobe/Getty Images Key Facts Russia confirmed its withdrawal Thursday morning, but called the move a “ goodwill gesture ” to facilitate grain exports in the shipping lanes off the island, while Ukraine’s Pivden Operational Command hailed it as a victory on Facebook , the result of “another successful stage of the military operation with fire strikes.

” Snake Island is a critical Black Sea outpost roughly 20 miles off Ukraine’s southwest coast and 80 miles southwest of critical port city Odessa, which was captured by the Russian Navy early in the conflict. The island has since become a resounding sign of Ukraine’s refusal to surrender, with over one million sales of a commemorative stamp picturing a Ukrainian soldier giving the middle finger to the Russian warship Moskva when Russia ordered their surrender – made famous with an Instagram post of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holding the stamps and videos of hundreds of Ukrainians waiting in post office lines. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian military’s southern command, told the New York Times on Tuesday that it destroyed three anti-aircraft missile systems that Russian had stationed on the island, as well as Russia’s radar station.

Key Background The Russian Navy captured Snake Island – and forced the 100 Ukrainian troops there to surrender – on Feb. 24, just hours into the war. Thirteen Ukrainian State Border Guards refused to surrender from the garrison, with one making the now-infamous line over the radio: “Russian warships, go f*** yourself.

” The guards were initially presumed dead in the attack, but later revealed to be alive in captivity, and later returned to Ukraine in a prisoner exchange. Ukraine launched a counter-attack in April, with a navy missile sinking the Russian warship Moskva , one of the vessels involved in the taking of the island nine weeks earlier. Ukraine continued its attacks using Turkish-made TB-2 drones to dismantle Russia’s air defenses on the island.

Two weeks ago, the Ukrainian military released video footage on Twitter of their attack on the Russian rescue tug Vassily Bekh, 19 miles east of Snake Island, showing the vessel completely engulfed. In a statement on Twitter , the Ukrainian Navy claimed the ship was carrying “ammunition, weapons and personnel” to the island, including a short-range air missile called a “Tor. ” Crucial Quote “KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore,” tweeted Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the Ukrainian president.

What We Don’t Know Whether Russia’s withdrawal will focus its war effort on eastern Ukraine , where it is reportedly seeking to cut supply lines and trap Ukrainian troops on the frontline. Further Reading Russia’s Control Of Snake Island Spells Hunger And Instability For Parts Of Africa And The Middle East (Forbes) Here’s How Ukraine Could Devastate Russia’s Snake Island Garrison (Forbes) Ukraine Blasts Russian Tug Near Snake Island With Land-Based Harpoon Missiles (Forbes) Send me a secure tip . Brian Bushard Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.