Wednesday 22 June 2022 09:56 AM Ukraine deals 'significant' blow to Putin's Black Sea forces after pounding ... trends now
Ukraine has claimed a 'significant' victory against Putin's Black Sea forces after pounding the Russian garrison on the strategic Snake Island.
The southern operational command said it had 'aimed strikes with the use of various forces' on the island, causing major losses to Kremlin troops.
Satellite images show the damage wrought by the defending forces, with burning vegetation and a tower destroyed in the fight for the island.
The Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system, a radar station and vehicles were all damaged in the attacks on the island which has been a major battleground throughout the war.
The 100-acre outpost has proved to be a valuable strategic position, sitting some 80 miles off Ukraine's southern coastline in the Black Sea.
Russia seized the island early in the war and has largely managed to maintain control of it, but its forces there have been subject to bombing raids ever since.
Snake Island is seen in an aerial photo on June 17 before Ukraine carried out a series of strikes on the strategic outpost
By June 20, Ukraine had caused serious damage, with satellite imagery showing devastated regions
The southern operational command said it had 'aimed strikes with the use of various forces' on the island, pictured on June 17
The Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system, a radar station and vehicles were all damaged in the attacks (pictured on June 20)
In February, Ukrainian border guard Roman Hrybov on Snake Island famously radioed 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself' to Russian officers aboard the Moskva.
Hrybov and his crew were thought dead after the Moskva bombarded the island with artillery fire, but they miraculously survived and were given awards upon being returned to Ukrainian soil in a prisoner transfer last month.
The latest strikes come days after a Russian navy tugboat transporting crew and armaments to Snake Island was destroyed in the Black Sea just with two Harpoon missiles.
It was the first time Kyiv claimed to hit a Russian vessel with the Western-supplied anti-ship rockets.
Ukraine's Armed Forces Strategic Communications Directorate showed the anti-ship missile striking the tug Vasily Bekh at 4am as it delivered soldiers, weapons, and ammunition to hotly-contested island.
A Ukrainian serviceman on a position in the city of Severodonetsk of Luhansk area
A Ukrainian service member with a dog observes in the industrial area of the city of Sievierodonetsk
The city of Severodonetsk and its surroundings witnessed heavy fighting in recent days
Russian Black Sea Navy the tug Vasily Bekh was reportedly hit by an anti-ship missile while it was delivering troops and weapons to Snake Island
Its Tor anti air missile system failed to halt the strike but the tug remained afloat and was being evacuated for repairs after sustaining significant damage
Its Tor anti air missile system failed to halt the strike but the tug remained afloat and was being evacuated for repairs after sustaining significant damage. Pictured: The Vasily Bekh in happier times
Ukrainian sources later claimed ten sailors on the tug were missing presumed dead, and 23 wounded. The crew number was put at 33.
Harpoon missiles are anti-ship ballistics that were first developed by the US and now manufactured by Boeing.
The US has sent Harpoon missiles to Ukraine while the UK and Denmark have said they will consider sending the ballistics. It was not immediately clear where these ballistics had come from.
The Snake Island battle comes as Russian casualties have risen to 55 per cent of the original strength of the Donetsk People's Republic forces, Britain said.
Figures published by the DPR showed that by June 16, 2,128 military personnel had been killed in action, with 8,897 wounded since the beginning of 2022, the British defence ministry said in a daily Twitter update.
Russian authorities have not released the tally of military casualties in Ukraine since 25 March, it added.
