China News Service, Beijing, July 1 (Zhang Naiyue) On June 30, local time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russia has withdrawn its troops from Snake Island.

The news was subsequently confirmed by Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.

Image source: Screenshot of RIA Novosti report.

　　This island in the Black Sea has been the focus of attention since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

After struggling to compete for the Snake Island for several months, why does the Russian army say that it will withdraw now?

Why do you want to withdraw troops suddenly?

　　According to official sources from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russia’s announcement that the withdrawal of troops from Snake Island is a “goodwill gesture” will express to the international community that Russia will not hinder the United Nations’ efforts to form a humanitarian corridor to transport agricultural products from Ukrainian territory. .

Data map: Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov issued a briefing on the war situation.

　　After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the main port of Ukraine, an important grain exporter, was blocked. How to transport grain from Ukraine has become a big problem.

　　According to data disclosed by the Ukrainian Minister of Agricultural Policy and Grain, Ukraine has exported only 4 million tons of grain since February 24. Before that, Ukrainian ports exported an average of 5 million to 6 million tons of grain per month.

　　Since June, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Nations and other parties have carried out negotiations on grain exports.

On June 28, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the negotiations had reached a "critical moment".

　　The declaration of the Russian army at this moment seems to be in line with this point in time.

In Ukraine and the West, however, another voice is clearly louder.

　　After the Russian troops announced their withdrawal, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba immediately posted on social media, saying that "they (Russia) always downplay their failures like this."

A Reuters report on the 30th also called the incident a "victory for Ukraine".

　　Peskov, the Russian presidential press secretary, declined to comment on this interpretation, saying, "This is a military issue."

　　In addition, some Russian media believe that the decision to withdraw from Snake Island has many meanings: in addition to the official concern and goodwill about the food issue, this move also means that the situation in the region and the tactics of the Russian army are changing.

Snake Island is flat and lacks shelter, making it easy to attack and difficult to defend.

If the difficulties of defending this place outweigh the benefits of controlling the northwestern Black Sea, then there would be no point in garrisoning on Snake Island.

　　"Moscow Communist Youth League" quoted Russian military experts as commenting, "We all understand that 5 million tons of grain cannot control the weather of the 80 million-ton world grain market."

It is easy to attack and difficult to defend, and the competition has been long

　　Russia and Ukraine have been fighting for Snake Island for a long time.

On February 24 this year, after the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Snake Island was quickly occupied by the Russian army.

The next day, 82 Ukrainian troops stationed on the island surrendered and evacuated.

　　However, when the 82 Ukrainian troops were evacuated, 16 Ukrainian navy ships used "swarm tactics" to try to attack the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships that transported these Ukrainian soldiers.

Since then, the battle for Snake Island has begun.

From February to June, clashes over Snake Island occurred from time to time.

　　In May, the Russian and Ukrainian military released news in turn. The Ukrainian military just claimed that the drone had destroyed the Russian warship near the Snake Island, and the Russian military disclosed that it had attacked Ukrainian planes and helicopters. Then the Ukrainian military attacked the Russian troops on the island again. The army responded repeatedly by repelling the Ukrainian attack.

　　By the end of June, the Ukrainian army was still attacking Snake Island with rockets and planes, and the Russian army frequently responded.

On June 22, satellite images released by CNN in its report showed that there were traces of extensive burning on Snake Island, as well as a damaged tower.

　　Outside the battlefield, the public opinion field is also full of gunpowder.

　　When Snake Island was first captured, the news that "the 'Thirteen Warriors' of the Ukrainian Army on the island refused to be captured and died in battle" spread rapidly on the Internet, making it a great symbol in Western public opinion.

　　Later, the news that the legendary Russian cruiser "Moscow" sank in the Black Sea was also quickly "claimed" by the Ukrainian army, claiming that it was the work of the Ukrainian border guards stationed on Snake Island.

　　Although these incidents are deeply involved in the "Rashomon", it shows that the two sides attach great importance to Snake Island, and they will not back down in words.

Little Snake Island, the main throat

　　Snake Island is a small island in the Black Sea, with an area of ​​only 20.5 hectares, about 140 kilometers away from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

There are post offices, museums and banks on the island.

However, the population is small, mainly composed of border guards.

A farmer checks the maturity of wheat in a field in the Donetsk region on June 21, 2022.

　　It is worth noting that Snake Island is located about 32 kilometers south of the Ukrainian coast and is also very close to NATO member Romania.

Russian media have reported that one of the main ways to transport weapons from the west to Ukraine is by land and sea through Romania.

For the Russian army, controlling Snake Island could cut off this passage.

　　Strategically, Snake Island is an air defense outpost in the Crimea region.

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Director Budanov once said that whoever controls Snake Island can control the water surface in southern Ukraine and, to a certain extent, the air situation in southern Ukraine.

　　The economic status of Snake Island is also very important, and control of this island will prevent Ukraine from exporting grain from the large southern port of Odessa.

Moreover, the Black Sea area where Snake Island is located is also rich in oil and natural gas resources.

　　These key elements have led to a fierce competition between the two sides over Snake Island, and the military and public opinion are full of gunpowder.

But now, the Russian army has left the Snake Island, which has been guarding the Snake Island for several months, citing food concerns.

　　When announcing the withdrawal of troops, the Russian Ministry of Defense made it clear that it would not give Kyiv the opportunity to make a fuss about the food crisis.

　　At the same time, the Russian side also threw the "ball" into Ukraine's hands, saying that "now we need to pay attention to the actions of Ukraine, which has still not cleaned up the Black Sea coast, including the waters near its ports."

　　However, whether the two sides can really reach an agreement, open the port and provide food, and what consequences might this major decision of the Russian military have?

Will there be a new round of public opinion turmoil?

Everything is still unknown.

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