"Measures to Establish Humanitarian Corridors" Emphasized
UK Media: "Failure of Russian Troops to Defend Snake Island"
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Attention is focused on the background as the Russian military announced its withdrawal from 'Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island),' known as the largest strategic point in the Black Sea. The Russian military claims this is a goodwill gesture to resume grain exports from the Black Sea, but military experts harshly criticize that they failed to maintain the defense line due to relentless airstrikes by the Ukrainian forces.
According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 30th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense stated in a press release, "The Russian garrison that completed its mission on Snake Island has withdrawn from the area," emphasizing, "This withdrawal is a sign of goodwill and shows that it does not obstruct the United Nations' efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian grain exports."
However, major foreign media outlets, citing military experts, report that the Russian military decided to withdraw after failing to maintain the defense line on Snake Island. According to the British BBC, Snake Island is located about 35 km from the Ukrainian coastline, and since the outbreak of the war, Ukrainian forces have continuously attacked the Russian garrison on the island for about four months using missiles, howitzers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
Earlier, Snake Island was occupied by the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva immediately after the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Subsequently, during the Black Sea battles between the two sides, the Moskva was sunk by the Ukrainian forces, significantly weakening the defense system. Following this, Ukrainian forces continued their offensive, and the Russian military attempted to transport various anti-air defense weapons to defend Snake Island, which is far from their naval base, but repeatedly failed.
In particular, the BBC reported that the Ukrainian forces recently deployed self-propelled artillery, supported by France, along the Odessa coastline, intensifying their offensive, which ultimately led the Russian garrison to abandon their defense and retreat. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also stated on Telegram that "the invaders, unable to withstand the airstrikes, have left Snake Island," expressing gratitude to the Odessa regional defense forces for their efforts to liberate Ukrainian territory.
With the Ukrainian forces recapturing Snake Island, a strategic point in the Black Sea, it is expected that negotiations to resume grain exports between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United Nations and Turkey, will accelerate.
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