Ukraine said its strikes forced Russian troops to flee Snake Island by speedboat. Russia says it left as a 'gesture of goodwill.'
Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS
- Ukraine and Russia both said Russian troops withdrew from the strategic Snake Island.
- Ukraine had been firing missiles to try to reclaim it, and said those efforts drove the Russians away.
- Russia claimed it left as a "gesture of goodwill" so food could be exported from Ukraine.
Ukraine said that its missile strikes on Snake Island, the scene of some of the most talked-about fighting in the Russian invasion, drove away Russian troops who were trying to set up a military base there.
Russia confirmed that its troops had left the Black Sea island, but painted its departure as a "gesture of goodwill."
The island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, was the scene of one of the most famous exchanges of the invasion after a Ukrainian guard responded to a Russian warship's order to surrender with the phrase "Russian warship, go fuck yourself" in one of the first few days of the invasion.
Russia then took the island, the position of which makes it strategically important. It has tried to build a base there, but has been subject to Ukraine's attacks. Ukraine previously said it had destroyed Russian equipment on the island.
Ukraine on Thursday said its attacks had forced Russia out.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted on Thursday: "KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job."
And Ukraine's Pivden (South) Operational Command, which operate in the south of the country, said on Facebook on Thursday that Ukraine's efforts had led to Russian troops fleeing the island on speedboats.
"During the night, as a result of another successful military operation carried out by our missile and artillery forces on the Snake Island, the enemy rushed to evacuate the remains of its garrison by two speed boats and it looks like it has left the island completely."
Russia's defense ministry said the departure was to allow food to leave Ukraine for export.
"It has been demonstrated to the world community that the Russian Federation does not interfere with the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine," it said, according to Russia-state owned news agency RIA Novosti in its report about the departure.
Russia has blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports throughout the invasion, forcing essential grain exports to be stuck in the country. Ukraine is a major global exporter of wheat and corn, accounting for 12% and 17% of global supply, respectively.
It was not immediately clear how Russia leaving the island would help Ukrainian exports.
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