Russia quits Snake Island, in blow to blockade of Ukraine ports
Snake Island became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in the first days of the war. It was also a strategic target, sitting aside shipping lanes near Ukraine’s port of Odessa. Ukraine has begun to receive longer-range missiles and military gear from Western backers. Russian troops abandoned their positions on a captured Ukrainian island on Thursday, a major setback to their invasion effort that weakens their blockade of Ukraine’s ports, defence officials said. The Black Sea news came as NATO leaders concluded their summit in Madrid, intent on demonstrating their unity and determination to provide advanced weapons to Kyiv in the face of Moscow’s assault. Snake Island became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in the first days of the war, when the rocky outcrop’s defenders told a Russian warship that called on them to surrender to “go f*ck y