Vladimir Putin’s underfire garrison on Snake Island is “exposed” to attack and efforts to resupply it are allowing Ukrainian forces to inflict further losses on his military, British defence chiefs said on Wednesday.
They stressed that Russian re-supply vessels have “limited” protection after the flagship of Mr Putin’s navy, the Moskva, was sunk, and other ships “retreated” towards Crimea.
However, they also warned that if the Russian president could build up his forces on Snake Island, with strategic air defences and coastal defence cruise missiles, then he could gain control over the north-western Black Sea.
Snake Island became a symbol of defiant Ukrainian resistance in the face of overwhelming Russian power at the start of the invasion on February 24.
Also known as Zmiinyi Island, it lies in the north-western Black Sea, some 30 miles from the Ukrainian coast and 180 miles west of annexed Crimea.
Around a dozen Ukrainian soldiers were feared to have been obliterated by Russian attacks after reportedly refusing to surrender and telling one of Mr Putin’s warships to “go to hell”.
For their bravery, they were awarded posthumous honours by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
But later it emerged that they had been captured by Russian forces.
In its latest intelligence briefing, the Ministry of Defence in London said on Wednesday: “Fighting continues at Zmiinyi Island, also known as Snake Island, with Russia repeatedly trying to reinforce its exposed garrison located there.
“Ukraine has successfully struck Russian air defences and resupply vessels with Bayraktar drones. Russia’s resupply vessels have minimum protection in the western Black Sea, following the Russian Navy’s retreat to Crimea after the loss of the Moskva.”
It added: “Russia’s current efforts to augment its forces on Zmiinyi Island offer Ukraine more opportunities to engage Russian troops and attrit materiel.
“If Russia consolidates its position on Zmiinyi Island with strategic air defence and coastal defence cruise missiles, they could dominate the north-western Black Sea.”
