Ukrainian officials said that Russian troops have evacuated Snake Island, a remote island off the south of Ukraine that was occupied by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense also confirmed the withdrawal has taken place from the island, which is locally known as Zmiinyi Island, describing it as an act “of goodwill.”
Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, tweeted this morning that there were no Russian troops on Snake Island anymore while an official message from Ukraine’s southern operational command said Russian forces had “hastily evacuated” the island which is a strategic outpost in the Black Sea
“During the night, as a result of the successful next stage of the military operation with strikes by our missile and artillery units on Snake Island, the enemy hastily evacuated the remnants of the garrison with two speed boats and, presumably, left the island,” the operational command said on Facebook.
It added that currently, Snake island “is covered in fire, explosions are heard” with the final outcome of the operation still being investigated.
In a briefing by Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Thursday, it confirmed the withdrawal, stating:
“On June 30, as a step of goodwill, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation completed the fulfillment of their tasks on Zmeiny Island and withdrew the garrison stationed there.”
It said the move “demonstrated to the world community that the Russian Federation does not hinder the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine.”
Russia said the decision “will not allow Kyiv to speculate on the impending food crisis, referring to the impossibility of exporting grain due to Russia’s total control of the northwestern part of the Black Sea