Ukraine president Zelensky taunts Putin by visiting Snake Island to mark 500th day of war

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the liberated Snake Island in the Black Sea to mark the 500th day of Vladimir Putin’s war in the country.

The strategic rock outcrop came to prominence early in the war when Ukrainian defenders were threatened by a Russian warship who demanded their surrender.

The heroic defenders famously radioed the approaching Russian cruiser to ‘Go f*** yourself’.

The Russians grabbed the island but later retreated in a humiliating setback for Putin which was styled bizarrely as a ‘gesture of goodwill’.

The Russian vessel – the Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet – was later sunk in a Ukrainian missile strike, perhaps Putin’s biggest single setback of the war.

Zelensky was seen arriving in a risky security operation by boat – before issuing a ‘We will definitely win’ message to his people

Zelensky was seen arriving in a risky security operation by boat – before issuing a ‘We will definitely win’ message to his people.

‘I wish you health, dear Ukrainians,’ he said as the 500-day mark was reached.

‘Today we are on Snake [Island], our Snake, which will never be held by occupants, because we are a land of the brave.

‘Today we are honouring our Ukrainian heroes, all warriors who fought for this island and liberated it.

‘And this small piece of land in the middle of our Black Sea is a great proof that Ukraine will return to itself every part of its territory.

‘I want to thank you from this very place.

‘Victories to each of our soldiers for these 500 days, our armed forces, our intelligence.’

He praised all the Ukrainian services for the defence of the country against Putin’s invaders.

‘We are moving forward Thank you to each and every one of you.’

While Zelensky regularly visits the front line, Putin seldom if ever goes near danger zones.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is seen visiting Zmiiny (Snake) Island to pay tribute to defenders on the 500th day of Vladimir Putin’s war against his country

‘Today we are on Snake [Island], our Snake, which will never be held by occupants, because we are a land of the brave,’ Zelensky said

Snake Island came to prominence early in the war when Ukrainian defenders were threatened by a Russian warship who demanded their surrender 

Moskva, the ship which ordered the Snake Island troops to surrender, was since destroyed – sinking into the Black Sea after being hit by Ukrainian missiles

The Russians grabbed the island but later retreated in a humiliating setback for Putin which was styled bizarrely as a ‘gesture of goodwill’

Snake Island was liberated on 7 July 2022 – an early sign of Ukraine’s determination to grab back its territory

Russia seized control of the tiny island – which is strategically located in the Black Sea close to Ukraine – on the first day of the war after bombing the defenders. Ukraine later regained the land in humiliating fashion for the Russians 

The Ukrainian president also posted a message on social media: ‘Snake – free island of free Ukraine.’

‘Grateful to everyone who fought here against the [Russian] occupiers. We honour the memory of the heroes who gave their lives in this battle – one of the most important during a full-scale war.

‘Glory to each and every one who fights for security in our Black Sea. Honour!’

Snake Island was liberated on 7 July 2022 – an early sign of Ukraine’s determination to grab back its territory.

At the time, guards chief Arut Papoian said: ‘Snake island has always been Ukrainian and always will be. And no temporary occupation will change that.

‘Our battalion was the first to visit Snake Island after liberation. It was risky, but now our flag is flying on the island. Soon all of Ukraine will be freed. We will win together.’

The exact timing of Zelensky’s visit to Snake – or Zmiiny – Island was not immediately disclosed.

Russian hardline war analyst Sergei Mardan expressed outrage that Zelensky was able to visit the island without attack by Putin’s forces. He also complained that Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov escorted the Kyiv president to Snake Island.

The hated Budanov has been reported dead or fatally wounded multiple times by Russian state TV – yet was clearly alive for this outing to the Black Sea island.

Budanov – widely admired in Ukraine and the West – is blamed for the assassination of hardline war critics in Russia.

‘Zelensky arrived on Snake Island along with Budanov ‘killed’ a month ago,’ snarled Mardan.

They were ‘an ideal target for a missile attack’ from Russian occupied Crimea some 60 miles away. ‘But they didn’t hit – again,’ he added.

He questioned how Zelensky ‘freely comes to the frontline zone, without fear for his life’.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul today

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul earlier on Saturday

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, addresses a joint press conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul, Turkey, today

As Zelensky made the trip to Snake Island, his forces were making ‘steady gains’ in the besieged Bakhmut.

A UK Ministry of Defence intelligence update on Saturday morning said that following a ‘lull during June 2023’, Bakhmut over the last week has ‘again been the site of some of the most intense fighting along the front’.

The statement added: ‘Ukrainian forces have made steady gains to both the north and south of the Russian-held town. Russian defenders are highly likely struggling with poor morale, a mix of disparate units and a limited ability to find and strike Ukrainian artillery.

‘The Russian leadership almost certainly see it as politically unacceptable to concede Bakhmut, which has a symbolic weight as one of the few Russian gains in the last 12 months. However, there are highly likely few additional reserves to commit to the sector.’