Ukrainian forces' video shows Snake Island after russian occupation
On Zmiinyi [Snake] Island, Ukrainian specialists conducted research and demining of the territory
Rubryka reports, referring to the Telegram of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
"Samples of the enemy's weapons and equipment were identified and seized.
In particular, guidance and control systems, UAV Orlan-10, MANPADS systems, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, small arms, combat logs, personal documents of the russian military, electronic media," the military said.
In addition, a cat was discovered on the island, which lived for several months in the occupation. The Ukrainian soldiers evacuated the animal.
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Later, the russian authorities announced that they allegedly "completed the task on Zmiinyi Island" and "as a gesture of goodwill" withdrew the garrison stationed there.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhny, said that after leaving, the russians tried to destroy their remaining equipment on Zmiinyi Island with airstrikes. Ukraine's armed forces cleared Snake Island, destroying about 30 units of enemy equipment.
After the island's liberation from the occupiers, Ukraine resumed navigation through the Danube-Black Sea canal. Ukraine's Sea Ports Administration announced:
"Taking into account the liberation of Zmiinyi Island from russian forces and the accumulation of a large number of ships anticipating passage through the Sulina Canal, we can use the channel of the mouth of the Danube-Black Sea Bystre Ship Pass for the entry/exit of ships transporting agricultural products."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the liberation of Zmiinyi "already limits the occupiers' actions significantly. Step by step, we will drive them out of our sea, our land, and our sky."
The Washington-base Institute for the Study of War believes that the russian retreat from Zmiinyi "will not end the sea blockade, however, as russian forces have access to land-based anti-ship systems in Crimea and western Kherson Oblast that can still target Ukrainian cargo as well as the use of the remaining ships of the Black Sea Fleet."
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Read Rubryka's daily timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.
