Click to see full-size image
On June 30th, the Russian Ministry of Defence revealed thst Russian forces left their military positions on Zmeiny Island. According to Russian military officials the decision was a “step of goodwill” aimed at demonstrating to the world community that Moscow does not hinder the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of grain from the territory of Ukraine.
The spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the Russian withdrawal would not allow Kiev to speculate on the impending food crisis, blaming Russia for the impossibility of exporting grain.
“Now it is up to the Ukrainian side, which has not yet cleared the Black Sea coast off its shores, including the port waters.” – the report of the Russian MoD reads.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not mention the new attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) at the Russian military positions on the island.
On June 27th, there were first reports about the destruction of the Russian Pantsir-S1 air defence system deployed on the island. Later, satellite imagery confirmed that at least one of the Russian Pantsir-S1 systems was damaged.
In total, according to various reports, 2 or 3 Pantsir-SM systems as well as 2 or 3 Tor-M2U systems. Satellite imagery revealed that the other systems were not destroyed but were forces to permanently change their positions on the island.
Later on June 29th and June 27th, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that Ukrainian missiles were intercepted over the island. Thus, there were still air defence systems working in the Russian military positions on the island.
Click to see full-size image
The Ukrainian attacks on the Russian positions did not stop.
On June 30th, Ukrainian media claimed that Russian forces left their positions and allegedly burned their military equipment left on the island.
Photos and satellite images confirm that fire broke out in several areas on the island which was likely the result of the shelling. The pier is seen damaged.
5 raid boats of the BL-820 project were seen moored to the island. They were likely used for evacuation of Russian servicemen.
The Ukrainian military released the video showing the attack on the island which took place on June 21. The Kiev’s military shows that the shelling is carried out by Ukrainian self-propelled howitzer 2C22 “Bogdana”. However, Kiev’s forces now have a big choice of foreign equipment to hit Russian positions on the island.
The Ukrainian attacks are carried out with close cooperation with the US military intelligence. The US reconnaissance aircraft are always spotted in the Black Sea are before the shelling. Thus, US RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance UAV took off from the Italian Sigonella airbase and carried out a reconnaissance mission over the Black Sea in early hours on June 30th.
Click to see full-size image
The strategic impact of the Russian withdrawal was less significant than the political one. The AFU still have no chance to take control of the island and to deploy any military equipment there as the Russian Black Sea fleet is still patrolling the sea. However, the declaration of the Russian “goodwill” is another failure of the Russian propaganda as such decisions are always seen as the weakness by the enemy. All the signs of “goodwill” that Moscow has ever made to its “Western partners” during or before the military operations in Ukraine have never had any positive results.
At the same time, the process of grain transport from the Ukrainian ports was already agreed. On June 28th, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke about the preliminary agreement under which grain blocked in Ukraine will be exported from three ports to Turkey with the consent of Russia. Thus, the Russian decision to leave Zmeiny island was not part of the political agreement, but the necessity to save the lives of Russian servicemen.
It’s a tremendous mistake!
No it’s not, at least not military. It was a mistake not abandoning it earlier, but I guess it was useful to keep Ukros occupied for a while. Now it’s too costly to keep it. I’ve keep saying for 2 months the island cannot be defended and it must be abandoned. It’s tiny, too exposed and too close to Ukro coast, it can be attacked even by artillery. Nothing you can do and nowhere to hide. Just leave it to Ukros then bomb them periodically. Ukros don’t gain much by holding it, even if they manage to place some heavy anti-ship and anti-air defenses there, their range gain is neglectable and these systems will be destroyed eventually. If/when Russians decide to take Odessa, then the island should be re-taken or neutralized/bombed into oblivion.
Obvious.
I make 85 dollars each hour for working an online job at home. I never thought I can do it but my best friend makes 10000 bucks every month working this job and she recommended me to learn more about it. The potential with this is endless… 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺
I produce eighty 5 dollars each hour for in operation an online job at .st25 I ne’er thought i’ll have it off but my relief makes 10 thousand greenbacks monthly operating this job and she or he Hav or he instructed coniferous tree State to be told further concerning it. The potential with this will be endless. For a lot of detail…… 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗝𝗼𝗯𝟭.𝗰𝗼𝗺
spot on. this is a war not some d*ck waving contest. whoever is stationed on that rock is sentenced to death.
Never give up captured territory or any control territory without a fight. Apparently you desktop jockeys don’t know anything about war, do you?
it is obvious that you don’t lmao
Totes dude. You get it. It’s way too exposed now – because of US actions. US Global Hawk and Reapers are circling it and feeding data to Ukrainian’s – who now also have US M777 howitzers and US HIMARS to reach out against the island. Leave it for now, take it again later, when RF move on Odessa. It’s the ebb and flow of establishing priorities in a conflict zone.
Make cash on-line from home further money quite $18000 to $21000. begin obtaining paid each month op Thousands greenbacks online. I actually have received $26000 in this month by just operating online from range in my half time. Um101 one and all simply try this job by.
just Open This Website…..> 𝘽𝙞𝙯𝙋𝙖𝙮1.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Until the Ukrainian place artillery there, it was a viable target to hold on to, now, it’s a useless piece of land that the Ukrainians have to defend but can’t occupy. The Ukrainians have an enormous number of men and material on that large spit of land beneath Odessa and IF the Russians decide to advance on Odessa, it will all have to be removed or run the chance of being cut-off. This was a smart move by the Russians.
Woever is on Snake Island, after Russia capture Odessa, is dead meat.
Did you guys saw the russian jets bombing run Over snake island yesterday? In 4 missiles two missed the island… A fucking static island!!! VKS is a world joke 😂
My thinking, taking Odessa is the real objective, here. After that, Snake Island is insignificant.
Russia didn’t abandon Snake Island, in the same way as Azov weren’t evacuated from Azovstal.
Russia was expelled from the island. Defeated. If the exit had been planed as “good will”, if Russia had superiority on that zone, they wouldn’t have to runa away in small civillian boats after burning what was left of their weapons.
If the fights in Snake Island before May-9 were a victory for Russia and a defeat for Kiev’s propaganda, then now this is a victory for Ukraine and a defeat for Moscow’s propaganda.
#DealWithIt
This reminds me of the situation around Kharkiv. After Russia was pushed until its border, Lavrov had to recognize it was a series of defeats and an unacceptable thing to lose those towns to Ukraine after so many weeks holding them.
Russia is winning in its main goal: liberate the Donbass. Slow and steady, but winning. Even so, it’s been 3 months of phase 2 and Lugansk oblast isn’t liberated yet. Let alone Donetsk oblast that still has 50% of unliberated territory, and Ukrainians “confortable” in Avdivka bombing Donetsk urban center.
All you guys have to admit is this is a very limited operation, between two well prepared and well armed forces. Casualties happen on both sides, as well as tactical defeats.
Russia is winning, yes. I even think the slow advance and only in the Donbass is on purpose (Europe will lose so much during the Winter… And that wouldn’t happen if the war ended in the Summer). But you guys need to lear to deal with it when there are obvious defeats.
This “good will” propaganda is ridiculous (specially after what was said and decided in the recent G7/NATO circus). And all the Russian nationalists and lunatic belicists that today spent their time commenting how “this island is not important” and “it was a good tactical decision”, just look as ridiculous as the Ukrainians that talked about how “Severodonetsk is not important” after the Russians conquered it.
Ukrops have not move in to the island. Bunch of BS coming out your filthy mouth
nuke it.
Just a simple question – did the Ukies push the Russians off or did the Russians leave ?.Because at this time after what Ihave drunk, Ido not get it.
Sorry but they never said militarily, they stated “RUSSIAN MILITARY PROPAGANDA LOST BATTLE FOR ZMEINY ISLAND” and I agree with SF after reading the UK MSM. Look I am pro-Russian (same with Syria), but I am a Brit and know how my Countrymen think – and also know how the media can twist things. Like in Syria, not knowing the Russian culture- some things absolute baffle me and I think they are ruddy ridiculous. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
Do we need to controll every single stone? – No we do not – the operation continues where we need it to continue. Just look at their Kharkov counter… or whats left of it – winning takes time and no TV show will change that ;-)
Very true, the goal is to denazify and militarily neutralize the country not to capture and hold every inch of it.
What would you have done?
Ahaha all those months you were fed likes and bulshit, hard to come back from lalaland 🤣😂
Its hard tombe a Pudin cocksucker 😘
Jajajajaja. You’re taking things too personally. You must be a dumb, Grigoyim, useful idiot. I sujest you try some Delta-8 and chill.
Did you guys saw the russian jets bombing run Over snake island yesterday? In 4 missiles two missed the island… A fucking static island!!! VKS is a world joke 😂
That position now ties down Ukranian troops and equipment whether the Russians occupy it or not. If or when the attack on Odessa is made, all that equipment and manpower will need to be evacuated or risk the chance of being cut off in a large, flat, indefensible territory. Though Russia will lose the propaganda war about it, they have strategically tied the Ukrainians into defending an island they can’t even occupy due to it vulnerability to Russia missiles.
Not really, the real mistake, is not to destroy those american spyplanes.
Nothing there. Russia can always come back should the show of goodwill fall on deaf ears.
Ahaha you guilible fools still dream of Odessa. Russian navy was defetead by a non existent One OMG 🤣
Like clyde Said Ukrainian navy has the more tonnage sunk since the world war. That s.impeessive!
Snake Island was not of a strategic importance from the beginning, without taking Odessa is futile to station valuable weaponry and put your crew life’s at risk. At least they managed to successfully evacuate the crew, that’s what matters in the end.
You’re right, Odessa is the Queen of that chessboard
so russian troops died for nothing nice
if they knew why did they bother in the 1st place the russians
It’s like the Latin American left. He believes that making concessions slow down the coup impetus of the oligarchic right, ends up betraying the voters themselves in neoliberal programs and suffering a coup.
How is the weather in telaviv?
I hope that the Russian forces will go back to the island as soon as Odessa is liberated.
Yes that’s the correct order to do it! First liberate Odessa and cut Ukros out of the Black Sea forever just like they are now cut out off the Azov Sea. Then Snake Island is back for good and it’s just right that the Kiev fascist regime will no longer have access to any seaports ever after that.
At this pace, Russia will liberate odessa in AD 3500
It might be a nice show and tell target for a FOAB, should NATO get too many ideas in its monodimensional head.
Good guess…
Nenhuma concessão russa melhorará a “boa vontade” da Otan. Cada passo para será inevitavelmente um pé da OTAN. Breve terá mísseis na ilha a serviço da Otan. E o mar estará fechado para os Russos.
Your country his on BRICS, what hell are you, an hasbara disguised of rat?
Russia left the Zmeiny Island to NATO to sneak in. They will do.
A few Iskanders will take care of that. There might be some surprises there, for invaders, as well.
Russia should first take Odessa then Zmeiny Island.
Russia has taken Odessa a long time ago.
I understand the de-escalation aspect but if you open the door the flies will come in with the cat in the form of more weapons to kill Russians.
In Moscow, nobody is bothered if Russian soldiers are killed.
Not really, it’s a kill zone for weapons storage. They certainly are welcome to try.
This is bad news since it means that USA is capable to destroy any Russia air defense system. Bad news.
Not sure what you are talking about. Island can be hit by artillery. Nothing you can do to prevent that (apart from destroying attacking artillery)
It probably made a difference when the Vasily Bekh tugboat was sunk, defences stop working if they run out of ammunition. Islands have territorial waters attached, so it could be significant in the longer term who ends up owning it. In WW1, unlike the opposition, the Germans built bunkers in the trenches that were essentially bomb proof even against a direct hit, due to good design and digging deep enough, so it could have been the resupply issue that was the big weak point there.
Smart move. There is no reason to waste men and resources for a sitting duck when there are more important strategic objectives elsewhere to gain. Come back later after Odessa falls.
you idiot they can attack Sebastopol from snake island
If Ukraine deploy troops in snake island… they will be destroyed by Russian air force and ground to ground missile
One FOAB or a few dozen TOS volleys would solve that pretty quickly.
They can also be fried, on that island.
Holding the Island is only of political interests, not strategic ones. Trying to hold it at any cost, for what? Just to have some SAMs to protect…. the SAMs ?! Ukraine has no navy or air force and Russia isn’t going to invade Odessa in the near future, so… And should this rock ever become a threat, Russia could just clear it with a Khinzal.
just like they ‘cleaned’ the area from odessa to danube delta…
They were probably picking up some good signals intelligence and it would have been a good air defence node if the Russian fleet was still 30 km off Odessa but they pulled the fleet back so the air defences on the island are only there to protect themselves and much more vunerable without the long range radars and air defences of the fleet. It’s not worth losing tug boats over.
Thats what happen when you get soft. Putin only understands force out from a position of strength. Thats why you have to go tough on them!
I wish putin were way more unforgiving and brutal to the west
He is a devout christian. What do you expect? Putin, acting like the devil Johnson or the dotard Biden? Not in a lifetime. You copy the West, they win and you become just like them. Putin, is the kind of man that chart his own course.
putin is not a saint anyone who loves the black dresses and rolex watches and limos namely the priests,these priests appropriate parks for the people to enjoy to build more buildings buy more limos rolexes and chant to the deity of the romanovs
cannot be this picture is called controlled opposition with people used as pawns by elites did you see putin smile at schwab whats that did putin go to the wef young leaders course look at that,is the war mongering butcher zio fascist kissing her a good buddy of putin,then ask whats going on
“On June 30th, the Russian Ministry of Defence revealed thst Russian forces left their military positions on Zmeiny Island. According to Russian military officials the decision was a “step of goodwill” aimed at demonstrating to the world community that Moscow does not hinder the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of grain from the territory of Ukraine.”….
Did I just hear this correctly stated???….
Mr. Putin. You need to provide the horrors in video and written testimony what has gone on in Ukraine since the coup in 2014 that has murdered 10s of thousands and displaced 100s of thousands more before the UN Security Council… As well as the American and “other” NATO members captured and killed that attacked your Country many times in the past 4 months and “before” sabotaging your government facilities over the last decade and seeing your high level diplomats murdered under very questionable circumstances….
You then should close with your country’s charter ENDING from that “H0u$e” of ill repute that masquerades as the rule of law… with the last words in your speech highlighting the LIE of Ronald Reagan about “tearing down that wall” that you attended all those years ago as the prophetic irony that it truly represents!
Russia Traded an “Iron Curtain” for an “Offensive Missile Shield” pointed at them!…
Don’t take it too seriously, it’s bad propaganda coming from the military. You can’t compare to UK or US in the field of propaganda, they are the masters.
There was no point taking that island at first instance. Russia has a full controll of the island even without any military presence. No Ukrainian forces would be allowed to set a step on the island. Why risk lives? For what reason?
Calm down! Until the moment they take Odessa, it makes no sense to keep the snake island. When Odessa is taken, the island will be in the boiler!
If this is the case, why is the leadership only thinking of this now? After weeks of emphasizing how important the island is? Realism looks different. At least in terms of propaganda, the withdrawal is a tactical defeat. An unnecessary one, in my opinion.
It’s a move to hide another one. You don’t play chess like you play poker.
There is a flaw in your objection. It is not a game, nor is it chess or poker.
Exactly, my point, in other posts. You’re right. Odessa is the priority, after Donesk is secured.
“However, the declaration of the Russian “goodwill” is another failure of the Russian propaganda as such decisions are always seen as the weakness by the enemy. All the signs of “goodwill” that Moscow has ever made to its “Western partners” during or before the military operations in Ukraine have never had any positive results.”
That’s true. Anyway the sea and sky area around the island is controlled by RF, ukros can’t gain any benefits from withdrawal. After liberation of Odessa and Budjak (region between Odessa, Moldavia and Danube) the island will be returned automatically.
The strategy is sound, the propaganda, inept. However, it is understandable, as a good military commander, hides his moves well, so the enemy sees only wind when the hurricane is coming.
Truth is, the Western propaganda about Russians blockading grain exports from Ukraine was deafening, at least in my country (Poland), and I’m afraid it was also quite effective. So, maybe it’s a good move? Anti-Russian crowd will find it hard to swallow – how can it be, Russkies have left this island for which there was such a fight, by themselves? It is a very strong signal “We really don’t blockade this grain export”… Militarily – what’s the difference? Russia rules Black Sea anyway… All the hoopla about this island seems to have been more a distraction than anything else. Leave the bloody rock for the Ukrainians, let them sit on it and wave their flag in desperation ;-)
The noise that Poland makes 24/7 itself is quite deafening. Like a nation full of three year olds all crying in unison for mommy to kiss their booboos.
Too much of goodwill will ruin Russia.
Russia is still playing the Western game of good guy bad guy. My suggestion is do what you need to do and stop worrying about what the west thinks says or does. Otherwise you are caught in their matrix of lies & deception.
It’s a masterful trap. When Ukraine tries to take back the Island and to send ground forces there, Russia will simply destroy them with Bastion-P missiles stationed on Crimea.
I am looking forward to a EU/ NATO “Grain Protecting Operation” on Zmeyni Island.
Just like in Syria wherever western forces appear russias enemys can act with impunity.
Then next one “Grain Distribution Center” in Odessa.
And a “Anti Hunger Center in Kiew”.
And Russia will be like “we cant do anthing if terrorists are shelling russian people while hiding behing World Grain Defence Forces.”
Sorry but incompetence needs punishment i hope chine is taking notes at least on how to not fight the US.
Russia is rather successfully taking bit by bit of a massively armed and prepared Ukraine + NATO. There aren’t even so many Russian fighters in Ukraine. It must be embarrassing for the west
The problem with Snake Island is the role of the USA. They fly their Global Hawk and Global Reaper drones constantly around this island every day. Then they give the UAP US M777 howitzers and US HIMARS with intent to reach and attack the island, just off the Odessa coast. All the while the US drones are feeding real time coordinates, operating out of Romanian NATO bases, to the UAP missiles and artillery operators. This is also how the Moska cruiser was hit (the British actually directly guided the missile from their AWACS aircraft in Romanian airspace over Black Sea). The US-UK are in direct war with Russia but are pretending otherwise. There is no way the hapless Ukrainians could achieve the results they have in this sector without complete NATO planning and participation. For now, the wise RF move is leave the island, it has little strategic value as a media-ego battle of control, and when the land based RF move on Odessa, then take it back. The real strategic value of island is not in the conflict now, but later, as a radar station and electronic surveillance base against NATO in Romania. The RF will resume control at right time – this is tactical operations of conflict in action.
So who do you think is tracking all of this real time commo?
What kind of coordinates do they need? The island won’t move an inch, it’s a sitting duck! Russia should just be careful that NATO doesn’t find a pretext to officially place a foothold on it.
I don’t think that this was a gesture of goodwill towards the West. I think it was made towards China and India and the emerging BRICS+ bloc.