Russia Withdraws its Troops from Snake Island

Russia seized Zmiinyi Island (snake Island) at the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine. The island has played an outsized role ever since.

Russian forces have abandoned Zmiinyi island after bombardment from Ukraine for four months. Russia claims that it withdrew its troops as a “gesture of goodwill”. They don’t want to obstruct grain exports, Russia days. However, Ukraine has dismissed Russian claims as Moscow still bombards its grain stores.

Why the Withdrawal?

Enemies can attack Zmiinyi island  from every direction with little to no cover. A small Ukrainian garrison used to defend the island before Russia seized it on 24^th February. However, any garrison defending the island are pretty much sitting ducks , according to military experts. Snake island is also located just 35 kms (22 miles) off Ukrainian coast-within range of missiles and artillery fire from the shore.

And the Ukrainian military has done just that. They claim responsibility for assaults on both the island and any ships carrying troops or powerful weapons.The sinking of the Moskva, the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship, in April dramatically reduced Russian anti-aircraft capabilities in the area. That’s why Kremlin was eager to deploy radio-electronic warfare and anti-aircraft weapons on Snake Island. Defending the island is a logistical headache for Russia too. It is situated far from its naval bases in the Black Sea.

Stationing troops on Snake Island is pointless for both sides because they would be an easy target, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov argues. Ukrainians should develop “fire control” -maintaining their ability to strike at any target approaching Snake Island. This would also provide security to the Ukrainian port of Odessa and the entire Black Sea region, he says.

Snake Island’s Importance

 Russia already has the Crimean Peninsula, the entire Sea of Azov, and a significant portion of the Black Sea coast of Ukraine. By controlling Snake Island, it effectively blockaded Odessa and made any export of Ukrainian grain impossible.

Additionally, it made the Black Sea shoreline more open to attack, and military experts in Kiev expressed concern that Russia would put in place long-range air defences such the S-400 air missile system.

A glance at the map also reveals that Romania, a member of NATO, was threatened by Russian control of the island, including the flow of traffic into and out of its important port of Constanta. Not only is it important strategically, but this region has abundant petroleum reserves.

 A Turning Point

Russian withdrawal from Snake Island is not just a symbolic victory, it is also a strategic success.  It is also an embarrassment for the Russian forces.  However, it won’t have a significant impact on the whole battle. Russia wants to annex the entire Donbas region and other southern regions it annexed during the conflict.

Even though Snake Island is strategically located in the Black Sea and is ideally situated for the installation of advanced missile systems, it is still just a little rock.The crucial question is whether the Ukrainians could think about restarting grain exports to revive their war devastated economy if they drive the Russians out. Without an effective navy, there is little chance of that yet, and Russian warships maintain their dominance over the Black Sea.According to Andrew Wilson, professor of Ukrainian studies at University College London, “practically, ten things need to occur before you can export grain safely, and this is just one of them.”

Russian proposals to escort grain convoys out of Odesa have been rebuffed by Ukraine since doing so would necessitate clearing mines from the port’s perimeter.Although Turkey is actively seeking to negotiate a deal with both Russia and Ukraine, the chances of that happening right now seem slim.Due to the fact that the next harvest doesn’t start until July, the upcoming weeks are crucial for Ukraine’s exports.

(Inputs, BBC)