Ukraine war: five things you need to know about the confict this Thursday
Russia's announced Thursday its forces had withdrawn from Snake Island, a strategic position in the Black Sea it previously captured. However, Ukraine's military said it drove Russians off the islet after a successful strike.
"KABOOM!", tweeted Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's office. "No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job."
A spokesman for the Russian defence ministry, Igor Konashenkov, publicised the pull-out early Thursday morning, saying it was a "sign of goodwill" that would help the export of grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea.
The recapturing of Snake Island drew praise from western leaders, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the announcement showed it was "impossible" to subjugate Ukraine.
"If you wanted proof of the incredible ability of the Ukrainians to fight back to overcome adversity and push back the Russians, look at what happened today on Serpents' Island, where once again Russia has had to give ground," he said.
The tiny Snake Island, located in the northwest of the Black Sea, drew international attention when on the first day of the Russian offensive a small Ukrainian garrison tried to hold out against the Russian flagship Moskva.
The island was soon captured but came under repeated Ukrainian attacks. The Moskva has since been sunk by Ukraine in an apparent torpedo strike.
A first ship carrying grain left Ukraine escorted by the Russian navy on Thursday.
Loaded with thousands of tonnes of wheat, the ship left the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk, occupied by Russia, according to local Moscow-backed authorities.
"7,000 tonnes of grain are leaving for friendly countries," the head of the pro-Russian administration in the region, Evgeny
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