On June 20, Russia claimed to have defeated what it called a “crazy attempt to take control of Snake Island” by shooting down two Ukrainian attack SU-25s and 13 of 15 drones and forcing the Ukrainian to abandon a planned landing. On the same day, the Ukrainians struck three Russian-controlled drilling rigs in the east of the island believed to house radar and intelligence equipment. Russian officials said three people were injured and seven were missing after the attack. On Tuesday, Southern Wind, a pro-Russian military channel, Telegram, said the island was being hit by overnight bombings and rockets designed to deplete the supply of air defense missiles and allow Ukrainian air strikes to continue. “After the development of French Caesar shells and Tochka-U missiles in the Odessa region, the intensity of the artillery increased sharply,” Rybar, another pro-Russian military channel, told Telegram on Thursday. “Today, physical control of the island is tantamount to suicide.” Ukraine has not commented in detail on which foreign weapons were used in the battle.
