Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday visited Snake Island, a logo of Ukraine’s resilience to mark 500 days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy honoured troopers who misplaced their lives within the battle and stated Ukraine will win the battle. “We’re on Snake Island – on our Snake Island, which can by no means be conquered by the occupier, like the entire of Ukraine as a result of we’re a rustic of the courageous,” Zelenskyy stated.
Zelenskyy added he honoured Ukraine’s heroes and stated, “Though it is a small piece of land in the midst of our Black Sea, it’s a nice proof that Ukraine will regain each little bit of its territory.” He added, “I need to thank – from right here, from this place of victory – every of our troopers for these 500 days.”
Zelenskyy asserted, “We will certainly win! For positive!”
Russian forces took management of Snake Island on February 24, 2022, the day Moscow launched its invasion, within the obvious hope of utilizing it as a staging floor for an assault on Odesa, Ukraine’s largest port and the headquarters of its navy.
The island took on legendary significance for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion when Ukrainian troops there reportedly acquired a requirement from a Russian warship to give up or be bombed. The reply supposedly got here again, Go (expletive) your self. Ukraine has celebrated the story with patriotic fervour, issuing a postage stamp in commemoration.
The island’s Ukrainian defenders have been captured by the Russians however later freed as a part of a prisoner alternate. After the island was taken, the Ukrainian navy closely bombarded the small Russian garrison there, forcing the Russians to tug again on June 30, 2022.
The Russian retreat lowered the specter of a seaborne Russian assault on Odesa and helped pave the best way for a deal to renew Ukrainian grain exports.
The Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday launched footage of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited firing ranges the place volunteer troopers are being educated.
Pitched battles alongside the entrance line are raging as NATO leaders are set to satisfy in Vilnius for a two-day summit subsequent week to supply extra assist in modernising Ukraine’s armed forces, create a brand new high-level discussion board for consultations and reaffirm that it’ll be a part of their alliance in the future.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed help early Saturday for Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, saying it deserves to hitch the alliance.
(With PTI inputs.)