Liberation of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island significantly changes situation in Black Sea –  Zelenskyy

Kateryna Tyshchenko – Thursday, 30 June 2022, 23:21

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pointed out that the liberation of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island from Russian occupying forces significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea.

Source: the President’s video address

Quote: "Zmiinyi Island is a strategic position, and this [the liberation of the island by Ukrainian forces - ed.] significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea.

It does not guarantee security yet, it does not guarantee that the enemy will not return. However, it significantly restricts the occupiers' actions."

Details: Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, the fighters of the Alpha special unit of the Security Service of Ukraine, artillerymen, army aviation and Air Force pilots, and Oleksandriya Command for the liberation of Zmiinyi Island.

Background: 

The Russian occupiers fled Zmiinyi Island on Thursday 30 June after Ukrainian forces launched multiple attacks on it, some of them using Ukrainian Bohdana howitzers.

The Russian authorities later claimed that they had "completed their mission on Zmiinyi Island", and the garrison stationed there had been withdrawn "as a goodwill gesture".

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the complete liberation of the territory of Odesa Oblast from the aggressors.

The US company Maxar Technologies released satellite images of Zmiinyi Island after its liberation from the Russian aggressors.