Snake Island Footage: Video footage released by the Ukrainian Operational Command “South” on social media this week shows previously unseen footage of strikes against Russian positions on Snake Island.
In the video, which is one of several already posted by the Ukrainian military in response to Russia’s sudden withdrawal from the island in the Black Sea, many kinds of Russian military equipment can be seen being destroyed.
Ukraine Weapons Tracker, a popular English-language account that tracks the war in Ukraine, said that the video shows a Russian radar, MLTV with ZU-23-2 AA autocannon, barracks, fuel tanks, and even the Tavrida Oil Rig are seen being hit by Ukrainian ammunition.
“Activation of the enemy and extension of the combat composition of the garrison on the o. Snake, creation of air defense and fire impact systems using jet base fire systems were aimed at ensuring control of sea and sky in the northwest Black Sea region,” a statement accompanying the video reads.
“Just as methodically and planned, as the invaders equipped their garrison, the Defense Forces counteracted this by the combination of their powers.”
The statement described how the operation lasted more than two months and was full of “complex” management decisions and calculations.
#Ukraine: The Ukrainian Operational Command “South” released a video showing some previously unseen strikes on Russian targets at the famous Snake Island – including a radar, MT-LB with ZU-23-2 AA autocannon, fuel tanks, barracks and, of course, the Tavrida Oil Rig. pic.twitter.com/6iN8EOHzOq
— ?? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) July 11, 2022
“A grouping of various forces of the Navy, Bairaktars squadron, Air Force, missile forces and artillery, units of the State Border Service, SBU and intelligence, as well as other units from the operational and strategic grouping were involved,” the statement continues.
Snake Island A “Warning” to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the retaking of Snake Island by Ukraine after the Russians abandoned the island and headed to eastern Ukraine last week was a “warning” to Russia.
“And now, let every Russian captain, whether of a ship or an aircraft, see the Ukrainian flag on Zmiinyui (Snake Island) and know that our state cannot be broken,” Zelenskyy said after the flag was raised on the island.
Russia claims that withdrawal from the island was a gesture of “goodwill” from the country, as Russia claims to want to work towards allowing the tens of millions of tons of grain stuck in Ukrainian docks to deport. Kyiv, however, says that the Russians withdrew after being forced out by the Ukrainian military due to long-range artillery now able to hit the island, making the Kremlin’s position there impossible to hold.
Either Russia is serious about wanting to allow the grain ships to leave Ukraine’s ports, or Snake Island is no longer vital for Russia’s operation in the Donestk and Luhansk Oblasts.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
