Ukraine declared "severe blow" on Snake Island, Russia suffered great losses

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 Ukraine's military announced that it had hit Snake Island, causing significant losses to Russian forces in the Black Sea.


In a post on Facebook on June 21, the commander of the southern force of the Ukrainian army announced that this force had attacked targets on Zmiinyi Island, also known as Snake Island.

"Zmiinyi Island has been dealt a heavy blow when Ukraine deployed various forces and methods of attack," the Ukrainian commander said.

The Ukrainian side confirmed that Russian forces stationed on Snake Island suffered "significant losses".

Meanwhile, Russia claims to have repelled the onslaught of Ukraine on Snake Island. The Russian side said Ukraine plans to "conduct a large-scale airstrike and shelling before landing and capturing the island".

"At 5 o'clock on June 20, the Kiev authorities made another frantic attempt to gain control of Snake Island. This is again a false 'victory' of the Ukrainian army," the Russian Defense Ministry informed. reported on Telegram.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 15 Ukrainian reconnaissance and attack drones took part in the strike, while multiple launch rocket systems and howitzers also fired on the island. 13 drones are believed to have been shot down.

Satellite images released by technology company Maxar Technologies on June 21 show destroyed facilities on Snake Island. Satellite images also show a destroyed tower in the southern part of the island and burned areas in the northern part.

Snake Island is about 48 km from the southernmost tip of Ukraine and about 300 km from the Crimean peninsula. Although only about 18 hectares wide, with only soil, rocks, grass and no fresh water, Snake Island in the Black Sea played a very important role in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Snake Island is located near the sea route leading to the Bosphorus Strait of Turkey - the only route leading from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

Russia took control of Snake Island more than 3 months ago. This is also the place to record intense battles between the two sides.

The loss of a strategic island to Russia caused Ukraine to lose control of the shipping lanes of ships from the southern port of Odessa to the world. Previously, from Odessa, most of Ukraine's agricultural products were exported to the global market.

The director of Ukraine's defense intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, said whoever controls Snake Island will control "a part of southern Ukraine". Therefore, Ukraine has shown its determination to regain control of Snake Island.

The Ukrainian military claims to have carried out attacks on Russian forces on Snake Island. Ukraine in May released a video showing that its drone attacked and destroyed the Russian Serna-class amphibious ship when it was on a mission to resupply Russian forces on the island. 

From Russia's tactical perspective, it will make every effort to keep Snake Island because it has the potential to become Moscow's "unsinkable aircraft carrier" in the Black Sea. Russia can deploy electronic warfare systems and anti-ship weapons on this island, creating stronger control over the Black Sea. 

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