Kyiv: Ukraine on Monday claimed to have hoisted its flag over Snake Island following the withdrawal of Russian troops from one of the important territories.
Spokeswoman for the military’s Southern Command, 1st Captain Natalia Humeniuk said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have raised the country’s flag over Snake Island, after forcing a Russian withdrawal from the strategically important territory, according to CNN’s report.
“The flag of Ukraine was installed on the island … the operation was completed, the island was returned to the jurisdiction of Ukraine,” Humeniuk said.
Snake Island, which is also known as Zmiinyi Ostriv in Ukrainian, is around 48 km off the Ukrainian coast and is close to the sea lanes leading to the Bosphorus and Mediterranean.
On June 30, the Ukrainian officials had said that Russian forces have withdrawn from the island.
Andriy Yermak, head of President Zelensky’s office, said, “KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our armed forces did a great job.”
The strategic island has gained focus when a small group of Ukrainian troops defending the island were heard in audio recordings telling a Russian warship to “go to hell”.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry had also confirmed that it has withdrawn its forces from the island.
It said, “On June 30, as a step of goodwill, the armed forces of the Russian Federation completed their assigned tasks on Zmiinyi Island and withdrew the garrison stationed there.
“Thus, it has been demonstrated to the world community that the Russian Federation does not interfere with the efforts of the UN to organise a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine.”
