Ukraine president Zelensky taunts Putin by visiting Snake Island to mark five hundredth day of warfare

Ukrainian chief Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the liberated Snake Island within the Black Sea to mark the five hundredth day of Vladimir Putin‘s warfare within the nation.

The strategic rock outcrop got here to prominence early within the warfare when Ukrainian defenders had been threatened by a Russian warship who demanded their give up.

The heroic defenders famously radioed the approaching Russian cruiser to ‘Go f*** yourself’.

The Russians grabbed the island however later retreated in a humiliating setback for Putin which was styled bizarrely as a ‘gesture of goodwill’.

The Russian vessel – the Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet – was later sunk in a Ukrainian missile strike, maybe Putin’s largest single setback of the warfare.

The precise timing of Zelensky’s go to to Snake – or Zmiiny – Island was not instantly disclosed

Zelensky was seen arriving in a dangerous safety operation by boat – earlier than issuing a ‘We will certainly win’ message to his folks

Zelensky was seen arriving in a dangerous safety operation by boat – earlier than issuing a ‘We will certainly win’ message to his folks.

‘I want you well being, expensive Ukrainians,’ he mentioned because the 500-day mark was reached.

‘Immediately we’re on Snake [Island], our Snake, which can by no means be held by occupants, as a result of we’re a land of the courageous.

‘Immediately we’re honouring our Ukrainian heroes, all warriors who fought for this island and liberated it.

‘And this small piece of land in the course of our Black Sea is a superb proof that Ukraine will return to itself each a part of its territory.

‘I wish to thanks from this very place.

‘Victories to every of our troopers for these 500 days, our armed forces, our intelligence.’

He praised all of the Ukrainian providers for the defence of the nation in opposition to Putin’s invaders.

‘We’re transferring ahead Thanks to every one among you.’

Whereas Zelensky frequently visits the entrance line, Putin seldom if ever goes close to hazard zones.

Snake Island got here to prominence early within the warfare when Ukrainian defenders had been threatened by a Russian warship who demanded their give up 

Moskva, the ship which ordered the Snake Island troops to give up, was since destroyed – sinking into the Black Sea after being hit by Ukrainian missiles

The Russians grabbed the island however later retreated in a humiliating setback for Putin which was styled bizarrely as a ‘gesture of goodwill’

The Ukrainian president additionally posted a message on social media: ‘Snake – free island of free Ukraine.’

‘Grateful to everybody who fought right here in opposition to the [Russian] occupiers. We honour the reminiscence of the heroes who gave their lives on this battle – one of the crucial necessary throughout a full-scale warfare.

‘Glory to every one who fights for safety in our Black Sea. Honour!’

Snake Island was liberated on 7 July 2022 – an early signal of Ukraine’s willpower to seize again its territory.

On the time, guards chief Arut Papoian mentioned: ‘Snake island has at all times been Ukrainian and at all times might be. And no non permanent occupation will change that.

‘Our battalion was the primary to go to Snake Island after liberation. It was dangerous, however now our flag is flying on the island. Quickly all of Ukraine might be freed. We are going to win collectively.’

The precise timing of Zelensky’s go to to Snake – or Zmiiny – Island was not instantly disclosed.

Russian hardline warfare analyst Sergei Mardan expressed outrage that Zelensky was capable of go to the island with out assault by Putin’s forces. He additionally complained that Ukrainian navy intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov escorted the Kyiv president to Snake Island.

The hated Budanov has been reported lifeless or fatally wounded a number of instances by Russian state TV – but was clearly alive for this outing to the Black Sea island.

Budanov – broadly admired in Ukraine and the West – is blamed for the assassination of hardline warfare critics in Russia.

‘Zelensky arrived on Snake Island together with Budanov ‘killed’ a month in the past,’ snarled Mardan.

They had been ‘a perfect goal for a missile assault’ from Russian occupied Crimea some 60 miles away. ‘However they did not hit – once more,’ he added.

He questioned how Zelensky ‘freely involves the frontline zone, with out concern for his life’.

Snake Island was liberated on 7 July 2022 – an early signal of Ukraine’s willpower to seize again its territory

Russia seized management of the tiny island – which is strategically situated within the Black Sea near Ukraine – on the primary day of the warfare after bombing the defenders. Ukraine later regained the land in humiliating style for the Russians 

As Zelensky made the journey to Snake Island, his forces had been making ‘regular beneficial properties’ within the besieged Bakhmut.

A UK Ministry of Defence intelligence replace on Saturday morning mentioned that following a ‘lull throughout June 2023’, Bakhmut over the past week has ‘once more been the positioning of a number of the most intense preventing alongside the entrance’.

The assertion added: ‘Ukrainian forces have made regular beneficial properties to each the north and south of the Russian-held city. Russian defenders are extremely seemingly combating poor morale, a mixture of disparate models and a restricted potential to seek out and strike Ukrainian artillery.

‘The Russian management virtually definitely see it as politically unacceptable to concede Bakhmut, which has a symbolic weight as one of many few Russian beneficial properties within the final 12 months. Nonetheless, there are extremely seemingly few further reserves to decide to the sector.’