Satellite imagery taken in the Black Sea area showed a huge letter “Z” on Zmeiny Island. Landing boats and a floating crane of the Russian Black Sea Fleet are also seen in the area.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has recently confirmed that Russia is “trying to increase its military presence on Zmeiny Island, strengthening the air defense system.”
- The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Vadim Skibitsky, has previously revealed that Tor-M2 air defense system had been transfered to the island as well as Russian Pantsir missile system to provide air defence in the area.
- “Amphibious boats and other ships are actively used to deliver ammunition, military equipment (primarily radar stations and reconnaissance equipment),” he added.
Earlier, another Russian Tor missile system was damaged as a result of the Ukrainian attack on the island. It was reportedly taken out from the island.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces do not stop reconnaissance missions in the Black sea area. The Russian Ministry of Defence is reporting the interceptions of Ukrainian UAVs, including Bayraktar TB2s, over the island on a daily basis.
- The last Ukrainian UAV was shot down last night.
Having established control over the military positions, the Russian military shared the footage of the destroyed Ukrainian forces remained on the island.
On the eve of May 9, the Ukrainian military command attempted to counter attack the island and carried out an unsuccessful assault operation. As a result, Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses. A fierce battle ensued on the island.
- During a decisive counterattack, all Ukrainian servicemen were reportedly pushed to the edge of the island and destroyed.
Apart from heavy material losses, the AFU operation resulted in “senseless death of more than 50 Ukrainian militants and soldiers of the elite units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
So far, at least 27 corpses of the Ukrainian serviceman remain on the island. The AFU reportedly ignore the calls of the Russian military to take the corpses of Ukrainian soldiers from the island to burry them in Ukraine.
Source: SOUTHFRONT