A Russian withdrawal from Snake Island is intended to facilitate grain exports from Ukraine – as a “sign of good will,” says Moscow.
Russia says it wants to withdraw its troops from conquered Snake Island in the Black Sea. This is to show that Russia does not impede the export of grain and agricultural products from Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in Moscow.
“On June 30, as a show of goodwill, Russian forces completed their assigned tasks on Snake Island.” Previously, Ukraine had reported an attack on the island. The information could not be independently verified.
The island was captured by the Russian Navy shortly after the Russian invasion of the neighboring country at the end of February. Since then, the Ukrainian armed forces have carried out repeated attacks with combat drones and aircraft. The cruiser “Moskva” (Moscow) was sunk with rockets according to the Ukrainian account. Russia is accused of obstructing grain exports by blocking ports. In some regions of the world there is therefore a risk of the hunger crisis escalating further. Ukraine and Russia are the most important suppliers of grain and fertilizer for a number of poor countries, especially in Africa.
