Russians hope to 'regain' Zmiinyi Island, but it's unrealistic - Budanov
Russian occupiers do not abandon plans to once again seize the Ukrainian Zmiinyi Island, regularly launching missile and bomb attacks, stated the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.
"They regularly carry out missile and bomb strikes. There has been information several times, and we have seen its confirmation, about conducting a similar operation, as we once did," Budanov said.
However, according to him, it is impossible to do so.
"But they couldn't do it because knocking out the garrison from the island is already unrealistic," emphasized the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence.
On June 30, 2022, Russian invaders left the Zmiinyi Island. After another successful operation by the Ukrainian forces, the enemy hastily evacuated the remnants of the garrison. As a result, this allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to completely liberate the Odesa region from Russian occupiers, prevent Russia from accessing the coastal areas of the region, and also open up a "grain corridor."
According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the liberation of the Zmiinyi Island from Russian invaders in 2022 took place in several stages.
It was also previously reported that on the symbolic date of 500 days of full-scale war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Zmiinyi Island.