Ukraine will fight for the remote Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island) in the Black Sea “for as long as necessary”, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence said on Friday (13).
“Whoever controls the island can block the movement of civilian ships in all directions to southern Ukraine at any time,” Kyrylo Budanov said in televised remarks.
The renewed fighting around Snake Island in recent days could turn into a battle for control of the western Black Sea coast, according to some defense officials, as Russian forces struggle to advance in northern and eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine said it had damaged a Russian navy logistics vessel near the island, a small but strategic outpost.
“Thanks to the actions of our naval sailors, the support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov caught fire – it is one of the newest in the Russian fleet,” said Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Odessa regional military administration.
Reuters could not independently verify the details. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Satellite images provided by Maxar, a US-based private company, showed the aftermath of what it said were likely missile strikes on a Russian Serna-class landing craft near the island, close to Ukraine’s maritime border with Romania.
The footage also showed recent damage to buildings on the island, made famous by the resistance of its Ukrainian defenders at the start of the invasion.
Source: CNN Brasil
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