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In Ukraine, Serpents’ Island was abandoned by the Russian army, which had occupied it until then. It is a symbolic victory for the Ukrainian forces, in search of signs of enemy weakness.
It’s a tiny islet, almost a rock, off the port of Odessa, Ukraine, but it’s strategic. Serpents’ Island was conquered by the Russian army on the first day of the war. After more than four months of Ukrainian bombing, the Russians announced on Thursday June 30 that they were evacuating the island. The Ukrainians claim victory, while Russia evokes diplomatic reasons to justify its withdrawal.
“This is a gesture of goodwill, Russia wants to show that it does not oppose the efforts of the UN to create a humanitarian corridor aimed at exporting grain from Ukraine“, said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense. If the Russian decision is confirmed, the maritime corridor could make it possible to revive Ukrainian wheat exports from the Black Sea ports and avoid aggravating the global shortage.
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