Zelensky visits Snake Island marking 500 days of full-scale war

President Volodymyr Zelensky marked 500 days of Russia's full-scale war on July 8 with a video filmed on Snake Island, paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian heroes. 

The Snake (Zmiinyi) Island has become a symbol of the indomitability of Ukrainians. Zelensky pledged Ukraine will reclaim every part of its territory currently occupied by Russia.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that a full-scale war has been going on in Ukraine for 500 days and stressed that it is now free thanks to the courage of the Ukrainian military.

I am grateful to everyone who fought here against the occupiers. We honoured the memory of the heroes who gave their lives in this battle, one of the most important during the full-scale war.

Glory to every man and woman who is fighting for the sake of security in our Black Sea!

The President emphasized that the island was only a small piece of land in the Black Sea, and it was proof of Ukraine's planning to regain all its territories.

Zelensky also honored the memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives in one of the most important battles during the full-scale war.

Snake Island, located 35 kilometers from the mainland of the Odesa region, was captured by Russian forces at the onset of the full-scale invasion due to its strategic importance.

Russian forces withdrew from Snake Island later that June. Their retreat led to the establishment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which resumed grain and other agricultural exports to the rest of the world.

On July 7, Ukrainian special forces landed on the island and completed the task of its liberation.

The military installed the flag of Ukraine, which had been delivered to the island earlier, "as a symbol of victory and rebirth from these ruins."