In the fight against Russia, Ukraine’s recapture of Snake Island is more than a strategic victory; the island in the Black Sea also has symbolic value. It is all the more important for the government in Kyiv to be able to hoist the country’s flag there again.
Ukrainian soldiers have again hoisted the Ukrainian flag on the symbolic Snake Island in the Black Sea, deserted by Russian troops. The Ukrainian government shared a video on Telegram showing the Ukrainian flag being raised on the island.
The island is finally back under Ukrainian control, a military spokeswoman said on Monday. She did not say whether Ukrainian soldiers are stationed there again.
According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Russian warplanes flew new attacks on Snake Island during the night. Russia had withdrawn its soldiers from the strategically important island. The island is about 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta. It is a strategically important post for monitoring the sea routes.
The Ukrainian flag was also signed on the island by Odessa’s military governor, Maxym Marchenko. It also bears the inscription: “Remember ‘Russian warship’, the island belongs to Ukraine!!!” The island became widely known a few days after the start of the war in late February after an incident involving a Russian warship.
The ship’s crew then asked the Snake Island garrison to lay down their arms. To which the Ukrainian marine Roman Hrybow replied: “Russian warship, fuck off!” The almost 32-year-old then became a folk hero in Ukraine.
A little later, the Russians occupied Snake Island, but withdrew a week ago after sustained Ukrainian air and artillery attacks. According to Ukrainian sources, the island’s jetty was “severely damaged” by two Russian missiles in the morning. The Russian side said several Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the attack. However, this cannot be verified independently.
