Russians abandoned Zmeiny Island after Ukrainian strikes
Ukrainian armed forces launched massive attacks on Zmeiny Island, after which the Russian garrison was evacuated from there.
This was reported in the blog of the operational command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “YUG”, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“During the night, as a result of the successful completion of the next stage of the military operation with fire strikes by our missile and artillery units on Snake Island, the enemy hastily evacuated the remnants of the garrison with two high-speed boats and, probably, left the island.
Now Zmeiny is covered in fire, explosions are heard. The final results of the operation are being further explored,” notes the Ukrainian side.
This information was confirmed by the authoritative military analytical channel “Rybar”.
“Apparently, at night it was decided to leave Zmeiny Island in order to save personnel and equipment. After the transfer of the French self-propelled guns CAESAR and the Tochka-U TRC to the Odessa region, the density of artillery fire from the Odessa region increased manifold. Two days ago we painted in detail tactics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to deplete the air defense of the Russian Armed Forces on the island. Well, the tactic is effective. Today, physically controlling the island is tantamount to suicide.
The next stage of the battle for Zmeiny Island is the destruction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ sea and airborne forces on the approaches in the best traditions of the principle “so don’t let anyone get you,” writes Rybar.
Military correspondent German Kulikovsky, the host of the telegram channel “Older Edda,” notes that endless shelling and the inability of the Black Sea Fleet to suppress the enemy’s coastal batteries dictate two decisions.
"1. Leave the island itself. 2. Make it impossible for it to function as an enemy air defense and anti-ship missile base, that is, essentially destroy everything that Ukraine sends to it and, if it is very lucky, lands on it,” summarizes Kulikovsky.
It should be noted that Zmeiny, as has been repeatedly stated, is of strategic importance for control over a significant part of the Black Sea.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed information about the withdrawal of the garrison.
“On June 30, as a step of goodwill, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation completed their assigned tasks on Zmeiny Island and withdrew the garrison located there.
Thus, it was demonstrated to the international community that the Russian Federation does not interfere with the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine.
This decision will not allow Kyiv to speculate on the impending food crisis, citing the impossibility of exporting grain due to Russia’s total control of the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Now the word is up to the Ukrainian side, which still has not cleared mines along the Black Sea coast off its shores, including the port waters.”
In turn, “Rybar” bitterly states about this:
“We will not give any moral and ethical assessment to the statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding the withdrawal of the RF Armed Forces contingent from Zmeiny Island. In other cases it is better to remain silent.”
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