Summary
Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelensky selected the island last year to speak to the media. “The island, like the rest of our territory, is Ukrainian land and we will defend it with all our might,” he said.
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After the attack on Ukraine, the Russian army is advancing rapidly. On the second day of the attack, Russia took control of Snake Island after Kiev’s military airbase and Chernobyl nuclear plant. From where a heart breaking incident has come to the fore. When the Russian soldiers who came to capture here saw the guards on the warship stationed there for security, they asked them to surrender. Those guards, protecting their self-respect, instead of surrendering, accepted the bullets of the Russian soldiers. Ukraine has given the honor of Hero of Ukraine while saluting these soldiers. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry tweeted that Russia has captured the island of Ukraine. 13 border guards present there have been killed.
Where is Snake Island?
Also called Serpent Island, it is located near the Danube Delta, about 35 km off the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. This Ukrainian city is about 30 miles from the coast of Vilkov and about 185 miles west of Crimea.
What was its significance for Ukraine?
Although the total area of Snake Island is less than a tenth of a square mile, but being in the Black Sea corner of Ukraine, it is important from the point of view of maritime security.
The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 has already given Moscow an opportunity to dominate large areas of the Black Sea that Ukraine holds. Snake Island was considered important to Ukraine’s maritime territorial claims. Ukraine understood the strategic importance of Snake Island, so it always feared a Russian attack on the island. This was the reason that during the Crimea Platform Summit in Kiev last year, Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelensky chose Snake Island to interview Ukrainian media to bring the summit into discussion.
According to media reports, when asked why he chose this location, Zelensky replied ‘The selection of Snake Island to speak to the media was highly symbolic. He said that we know that Russia is interested in the Black Sea, but this island, like the rest of our territory, is Ukrainian land and we will defend it with all our might.
Ukraine took several steps to strengthen security
Ukraine had taken several steps to strengthen the security of the island. Ukraine also urgently needed greater international support in the Black Sea. For this reason, many exercises were also held here during NATO’s annual sea air exercise in June and July of 2021. All these efforts of Ukraine regarding Snake Island were its insecurities as it was being signaled to Moscow to be the next target of hybrid war.
now what?
The island helps protect the Black Sea shipping corridor to the Ukrainian port cities of Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson. This Black Sea is important for the export of grain and metals to Ukraine, as well as for the import of consumer goods from China. It has a huge contribution in running Ukraine’s economy. After the Russian occupation of the island, the Ukrainian economy would be in sharp trouble.
Expansion
After the attack on Ukraine, the Russian army is advancing rapidly. On the second day of the attack, Russia took control of Snake Island after Kiev’s military airbase and Chernobyl nuclear plant. From where a heart breaking incident has come to the fore. When the Russian soldiers who came to capture here saw the guards on the warship stationed there for security, they asked them to surrender. Those guards, protecting their self-respect, instead of surrendering, accepted the bullets of the Russian soldiers. Ukraine has given the honor of Hero of Ukraine while saluting these soldiers. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry tweeted that Russia has captured the island of Ukraine. 13 border guards present there have been killed.
Where is Snake Island?
Also called Serpent Island, it is located near the Danube Delta, about 35 km off the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. This Ukrainian city is about 30 miles from the coast of Vilkov and about 185 miles west of Crimea.
What was its significance for Ukraine?
Although the total area of Snake Island is less than a tenth of a square mile, but being in the Black Sea corner of Ukraine, it is important from the point of view of maritime security.
The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 has already given Moscow an opportunity to dominate large areas of the Black Sea that Ukraine holds. Snake Island was considered important to Ukraine’s maritime territorial claims. Ukraine understood the strategic importance of Snake Island, so it always feared a Russian attack on the island.