Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated 500 days of war with a unique video released on Saturday, showcasing his visit to Snake Island in the Black Sea. It’s unclear when the video was recorded since Zelenskyy was in Turkey on Saturday.
In the video, Zelenskyy expressed his determination, saying, “Today, we stand on Zmiinyi Island – our Zmiinyi Island, which will never be conquered by the occupier, just like Ukraine as a whole, because we are a nation of courageous individuals.” He paid his respects at a memorial on the island and then released wreaths onto the water.
The soldiers stationed on the island gained recognition for their unwavering response to Russian troops who demanded surrender early in the war. However, Russian forces eventually captured the island, along with its Ukrainian defenders. Fortunately, these Ukrainian soldiers were later released through a prisoner exchange.
Following the occupation, the Ukrainian military launched a fierce bombardment on the small Russian garrison stationed on the island, compelling them to retreat on June 30, 2022. The Russian withdrawal diminished the risk of a naval attack on the port city of Odesa and facilitated an agreement to resume Ukrainian grain exports.
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all those who are fighting for Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine persists, with intense battles occurring across the country. Last month, Ukrainian forces initiated a counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-controlled territory in the eastern and southern regions, facing formidable Russian defensive lines. So far, they have only managed to recapture a few hundred square kilometers and a handful of villages after more than a month of fighting.
The Biden administration has made the controversial decision to provide Ukraine with an $800 million cluster munitions weapons package. This move aims to address Ukraine’s ammunition shortage during their slower-than-anticipated counteroffensive against entrenched Russian forces. In late June, the Biden administration also announced a $500 million drawdown package to Ukraine, including the provision of more than three dozen armored vehicles to aid the counteroffensive.
According to Ukraine’s interior ministry, a Russian rocket strike on the town of Lyman resulted in the death of eight civilians and injured 13 others early Saturday. Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko shared distressing images depicting the deceased, including a body lying beside a bicycle and body fragments scattered near a damaged vehicle, condemning the continued targeting of civilians by Russian terrorists in Donetsk.
Lyman, a significant rail hub, was initially captured by Russian forces but was eventually recaptured by Ukraine’s army in October.
Reporting contributed by Eleanor Watson.
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