Russia announces landing of Ukrainian speedboat near Snake Island

The Russian military claims to have destroyed a Ukrainian speedboat carrying a group of attackers near Snake Island in the Black Sea.

"At around 11am (3pm Hanoi time) on August 22, east of Snake Island, a Russian aircraft destroyed a US-made Willard Sea Force speedboat carrying a group of Ukrainian landing troops," the Russian Defense Ministry said today. Russia did not specify the type of aircraft, the weapons used, or how many Ukrainian soldiers were on board.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the information.

The Ukrainian military, with funding from the United States, purchased five speedboats from California-based Willard Marine in 2013 and received them in Odessa in 2015. The Sea Force comes in several different sizes and can carry crews of six, 10 or 26 soldiers.

A few hours earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that a Su-30SM fighter jet of the Black Sea Fleet had sunk a Ukrainian reconnaissance boat that appeared near a gas facility in the Black Sea on the night of August 21, but did not specify the type of Ukrainian boat.

Russian naval aviation Su-27 fighter jets on patrol in 2020. Photo: TASS — Russian naval aviation Su-27 fighter jets on patrol in 2020. Photo: *TASS*

Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, covers an area of about 17 hectares and is about 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian port of Odessa. Before the war, about 100 Ukrainian border guards were stationed on Snake Island. Russia took control of the island a few days after the outbreak of hostilities.

Despite having no natural resources or permanent military bases, Snake Island plays an important role in controlling shipping routes in the Black Sea. The Russian Defense Ministry announced in June 2022 that its forces on Snake Island had “completed their mission.” Meanwhile, Ukraine said that missile and artillery attacks by its forces had forced Russian troops to leave.

After Russia withdrew its garrison from the island, Ukraine sent a group of soldiers to raise the flag and take photos. Russia announced that it had launched a raid using high-precision weapons launched from aircraft, destroying part of the Ukrainian soldiers, while the rest withdrew to Odessa province.