( Observer Network ) After Russia announced on June 30 that it had retreated from Snake Island "out of goodwill", the West has rendered it a "strategic victory" in Ukrainian . British Prime Minister Johnson threatened that Russia retreated from Snake Island on the same day, showing that Ukraine had the ability to "repel the Russians." Ukrainian President Zelensky also declared in his video speech that night that Snake Island is "free again".
But this does not mean that Ukraine has complete control of Snake Island. Natalia Humeniuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Military Southern Command, pointed out on the same day that it may be "too early" for Ukraine to establish an outpost here.
At the same time, Russian President Putin met with Indonesian President at Kremlin on June 30, when Jokowi said that Russia will not block Ukrainian grain exports, nor will anyone stop Ukrainian troops from clearing mines at ports and releasing grain ships.
Snake Island geographical location.
Snake Island is about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) from the southern coast. It is an important outpost for controlling Ukrainian grain export channel and the main port city to Black Sea . It was controlled by the Russian army on February 24.
Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Konashenkov announced on June 30 that the Russian army had completed its established mission and withdrawn from Snake Island out of goodwill to show that Russia will not hinder the passage led by the United Nations to transport agricultural products out of Ukraine.
Snake Island satellite image
Ukrainian President Zelensky said in a video speech that night that Snake Island is "free again".
"Snake Island is a strategic point, it has greatly changed the situation in the Black Sea. It cannot guarantee safety, and it cannot guarantee that the enemy will not come back. But it has greatly restricted the occupiers' actions. Step by step, we will drive them out of our oceans, our lands and our sky," Zelensky said.
Zelensky delivered a speech on the evening of June 30
After the Russian army announced its retreat, Western analysts have called it a "symbol and strategic victory" of Ukraine. According to Reuters , British Prime Minister Johnson said at a press conference at the NATO summit on June 30: "If you want evidence to prove that Ukrainian defeats adversity and fights off the Russians' amazing counterattack ability, then look at what happened on Snake Island today. Russia has to give up its position again."
Johnson threatened: "End of the time, the facts will prove that Putin cannot suppress a country that does not accept his rule."
According to the British military, the Ukrainian army "almost certainly" used the newly delivered harpoon missile in the process of bombing Snake Island. The British military said this is their first time using the missile . Rob Lee of the U.S. Foreign Policy Institute told the Washington Post that Russia's abandonment of Snake Island "may be a tangible result of NATO 's weapons to Ukraine." Mason Clark of the American War Institute even said that it was a "major failure" for the Russian army.
But this does not mean that Ukraine has complete control of Snake Island. Natalia Humenyuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian military Southern Command, said after the Russian troops retreated that although Russian troops had withdrawn from Snake Island, it may be "too early" to establish an outpost here by Ukraine.
"Our troops have not landed on the island yet." She said it is still unclear whether the Russian troops have completely evacuated. "We can't say they're all evacuated." Humeenuk said that an investigation of possible legacy equipment would need to be carried out before the island was taken back.
"New York Times " points out that Snake Island has no value except as a base for Operation Black Sea. There is currently no indication that Ukrainian ships can pass through Odessa port . Jeffrey Edmonds, a senior analyst at the U.S. Navy Analytics Center, told The Washington Post that the Russian Navy can still pose a threat to ship operations. “Military, this weakens the blockade,” he said, “but it is not essential for the blockade.”
At the same time, the Russian army continues to advance in the eastern Ukrainian region. Vitali Kishelev, Assistant Minister of the Interior of Lugansk Region, announced on June 30 that Russia's shelling of the eastern city of Lisichangsk is still continuing, and the Russian army has "completely taken over the refinery."
According to Russian News Agency , the Russian army and Lugansk armed forces have completely controlled the Lisichangsk refinery, and the Ukrainian army has been completely repelled in the factory area. Lugansk armed forces said that they are currently launching an active offensive to the city of Lisichangsk, and the Ukrainian army is now on the rise. Trying to split into small troops to escape from Lisichangsk, it may only take several days to control the entire Lisichangsk.
Russian President Putin met with visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Kremlin on June 30, saying that Russia will not stop Ukrainian grain exports, nor will anyone stop Ukrainian troops from clearing mines at ports and releasing grain ships. Russia will ensure the safety of the food transportation process.
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