Russia abandons Snake Island after coming under heavy attack by Ukraine
Read also: Ukraine confirms it struck Russian-occupied Snake Island in Black Sea
According to OCS, a series of overnight missile and artillery strikes on Snake Island forced the Russian garrison to evacuate and sail away in two speedboats.
The message included a photo of the island, with several major fires visible.
Read also: Ukraine knows what forces Russia has stationed on Zmiinyi Island, Ukraine’s intelligence chief says
More details about the operation are expected to come.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said “there are no Russians on Snake Island anymore.”
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a marvelous operation,” Yermak said on Twitter.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has since confirmed that Moscow’s troops have left the island.
Read also: Ukrainian strike on Zmiinyi Island ‘destroys Pantsir air defense system and 49 troops’
Eyewitness reports on June 20 suggested several Ukrainian missiles had struck Russia-held facilities on Snake Island.
Satellite imagery, provided by Maxar Technologies, showed the damage done to various structures on the Ukrainian island, which has been under Russian occupation since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine launched another long-range strike on Snake Island on June 27-28. The enemy was unable to approach the island to relieve its embattled garrison there.
