The Ukrainian president marked the 500 days of war on Saturday by saluting the country’s soldiers in a video from an island in the Black Sea that has become a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion.
Speaking on Snake Island, Zelensky honored the Ukrainian soldiers who fought to defend the island and all other defenders of the country, saying that retaking control of the island is “great proof that Ukraine will take back every part of its territory.”
“I want to thank, from here, from this place of victory, each one of our soldiers for these 500 days,” Zelenskyy said. “Thank you to all who are fighting for Ukraine,” he added.
Russian forces seized control of the small rocky island on February 24, 2022, the day Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, apparently hoping to use it as a base for an assault on Odessa, Ukraine’s largest port and Army headquarters.
The island gained legendary significance for the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion when a Russian ship ordered Ukrainian troops to surrender or be shelled. The response was “fuck off…”.
Ukraine has celebrated the episode with patriotic fervor, issuing a commemorative postage stamp.
The island’s defenders were captured by the Russians, but later released in a prisoner exchange.
After taking the island, the Ukrainian army heavily shelled the small Russian garrison, forcing the Russians to withdraw on June 30, 2022.
The Russian withdrawal reduced the threat of a maritime attack on Odessa and helped pave the way for a grain export deal with Ukraine.
“May the freedom that all our heroes, at different times, wished for Ukraine and must now win, be a tribute to all those who gave their lives for Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“We are definitely going to win,” he predicted.
Source: TSF
