Recently released footage shows Ukrainian forces engaged in a standoff with Russian troops near the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island, a long-time target for both nations. The clip, shared by Ukraine’s state border guard, depicts soldiers from Ukraine—including its military intelligence—taking gas production platforms around the island from Russian control.
Snake Island, or Zmiinyi Island, was one of the first targets in Russia’s invasion that began on February 24, 2022. Its location is crucial, situated close to Romania in the northwestern Black Sea, where it poses a threat to Russian naval activities originating from Sevastopol in Crimea.
The footage appears to document a nighttime operation, with Ukrainian troops using boats to approach and then firing upon what seems to be a gas platform, which subsequently ignites. The video then transitions to show the platform ablaze in daylight.
AP Photo/Michael Shtekel
In June 2022, Ukraine regained control of Snake Island after Russia declared a withdrawal as a “goodwill gesture.” Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence, emphasized the island’s importance for trade, military strategy, and civilian shipping routes, especially for the port city of Odesa.
The border service announced on social media that they have seized critical facilities, reinforcing their control over significant sections of the surrounding waters. “These strategic locations act as our sea fortresses,” they stated.
In June 2024, Ukraine’s SBU security service released bodycam footage documenting a complex operation conducted on Snake Island two years prior. Russia had initially captured various gas drilling platforms, known as the Boyko Towers, after its annexation of Crimea in 2014. In September 2023, Ukraine claimed to have retaken these platforms.
In August 2023, the British government labeled these oil and gas towers as military outposts, highlighting their significance as helicopter landing sites and bases for long-range missile systems.