Russian forces withdraw from Black Sea's strategic Snake Island
Source: Reuters
KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukraine's Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry and Ukraine's president's office said on Thursday.
"KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job," Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, wrote on Twitter.
Russia's defence ministry confirmed Russian troops had withdrawn from Snake Island, calling it a "goodwill gesture" and saying the troops had fulfilled the tasks assigned to them.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-forces-have-withdrawn-snake-island-2022-06-30/
= new reply since forum marked as read
5:52 AM EDT
Last Updated 12 min ago
Russia abandons Snake Island in strategic victory for Ukraine
KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - Russian forces announced on Thursday they had abandoned the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island, in a major victory for Ukraine that could loosen the grip of Russia's grain export blockade.
Russia's defence ministry described the decision to withdraw from the outcrop as a "gesture of goodwill" that showed Moscow was not obstructing United Nations efforts to open a humanitarian corridor allowing grains to be shipped from Ukraine's ports. But Ukraine said it had driven the Russian forces out after a massive artillery and assault overnight.
"KABOOM!" tweeted Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff. "No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job." Ukraine's southern military command posted an image on Facebook of what appeared to be the island, seen from the air, with five huge columns of black smoke rising above it from what it described as an assault by missiles and artillery.
"The enemy hurriedly evacuated the remains of the garrison with two speed boats and probably left the island. Currently, Snake island is consumed by fire, explosions are bursting." Reuters could not immediately verify the photograph of either side's battlefield accounts.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-steps-up-attacks-ukraine-after-landmark-nato-summit-2022-06-30/
Looks like this might offer a corridor to ship grain although I don't trust Russia.
Here's the one you have (beat me be a couple minutes) that includes the pic...
5:16 AM EDT
Last Updated an hour ago
Russian forces withdraw from Black Sea's strategic Snake Island
Reuters
A satellite image shows an overview of Snake Island, Ukraine, June 21, 2022. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukraine's Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea, Russia's defence ministry and Ukraine's president's office said on Thursday.
"KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job," Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, wrote on Twitter.
Russia's defence ministry confirmed Russian troops had withdrawn from Snake Island, calling it a "goodwill gesture" and saying the troops had fulfilled the tasks assigned to them. The Russian ministry added the move showed Russia was not impeding U.N. efforts to organise a humanitarian corridor to export agricultural products out of Ukraine.
Snake Island, which Russia occupied on the first day of its invasion, achieved fame when Ukrainian border guards stationed there rejected a Russian warship's demand for their surrender. Ukraine's southern military command wrote on Facebook that following a successful operation involving missile and artillery units, Russian forces had evacuated from Snake Island in two boats.
(snip)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-russian-forces-have-withdrawn-snake-island-2022-06-30/
But, I think the Russian excuse of "goodwill gesture" is a boatload of crap. They left because they had to give up the territory.
Russia has ignored all pleas from the UN to stop the war, to stop assaulting civilians, and to stop the food blockade. The UN is starting to reach through the talk and shift towards taking action. The fact that Russia currently controls the Black Sea (also the Azov) means it has leverage against food exports. The rest of the world is not happy about this.
No wonder, then that the UN is starting to think in terms of taking control. If they were to do that, Russia would lose a lot of advantage it has to shoot from offshore, to resupply, etc. So, I don't think it is about any "good will" food corridor. The RA has pillaged food stocks for itself through this corridor, i.e., the Black Sea.
It looks like Turkey got political concessions in exchange for allowing Sweden and Finland to join NATO. NATO is absolutely increasing its presence in member countries, and Russia looks really bad right now.
Don't think for a second that this loss of Snake Island (I keep thinking of Kurt Russell, dunno..) is anything but a route of enemy soldiers. If they could have kept on there, they would have. I am not sure of the strategic positioning, but that was one of the first targets they had early in the war.
So, congratulations to Ukraine, they needed this boost, and it looks like they are in the fight to save southern Ukraine. More ammo, please, thank you very much.
(It is very satisfying to see that Ukraine is keeping the faith and actually using what they are being given to full advantage; our money and ammo is not being wasted.)
Hand Salute: Ready.. Two! 
