Ukrainian Armed Forces’ goal to liberate Zmiinyi [Snake] Island

DENYS KARLOVSKYI – WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE 2022, 21:23

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Chief of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, said that the goal of Ukrainian forces on Zmiinyi [Snake] Island is to liberate the entire island from Russian occupying forces.

Source: Budanov on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote from Budanov: "The group of [Russian - ed.] troops on Zmiinyi Island consists of air defence units, units armed with multiple launch rocket systems, three of them. In addition, there is a group of boats and special units of the Russian Federation.

This operation is currently underway: we are continuing to fire on these targets, and will continue to do so until Zmiinyi Island is completely liberated."

Details: Budanov explained that all of the "unusual" events in Kherson Oblast over the course of the last four days could be attributed to the resistance movement, in cooperation with Ukrainian security forces, including military intelligence.

Background:

• Earlier, Budanov vowed that Ukraine will fight for Zmiinyi Island for as long as it takes, as this is a strategically important point in the defence of southern Ukraine.
• Satellite images show the destruction on Zmiinyi Island after the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the positions of Russian occupying forces.
• The naval forces of the Armed Forces struck a tugboat belonging to the Russian occupiers that had a TOR anti-aircraft missile system on board and that carried people and weapons to Zmiinyi Island.
• On 21 June, the Ukrainian military carried out a targeted strike on the Russian garrison on Zmiinyi Island.
• The Ukrainian Armed Forces hit a Russian Pantsir S1 surface-to-air missile defence system, a radar station and vehicles belonging to the Russians on Zmiinyi Island.