Russia Claims To Thwart US And UK-backed Ukraine Attempt To Seize Snake Island, 50 Soldiers Killed

Major General Igor Konashenkov. (Source: Press Office of the Russian Ministry of Defense/Vadim Grishanin)

JAKARTA - Russia claims to have thwarted a provocation attempt to seize the Snake Snake by Ukraine, citing the US and Britain, leaving dozens of Kyiv soldiers dead.

The Ukrainian General Staff with the direct participation of advisers from the US and UK planned a provocation to seize Snake Island, but was thwarted by Russian forces, according to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov.

"Since May 7 by direct order of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian General Staff with the direct participation of advisers from the US and UK has been planning a major provocation to seize Snake Island," he said, TASS reported on May 10.

"Due to the professional move by the units of the Russian Armed Forces Troops on the island, the Ukrainian provocations were thwarted. The enemy suffered heavy losses," Konashenkov said.

According to him, over the past two days the Kyiv regime made several desperate attempts to carry out air and amphibious landings on Snake Island, which are crucial to ensuring control over the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

More than 50 Ukrainian saboteurs (troops) were destroyed in an attempt to occupy Snake Island, with the bodies of 24 Ukrainian soldiers remaining on the beach, Konashenkov said.

"As a result of stupid provocations (by Ukrainian President Vladimir) Zelensky only during the landing and attempts to establish a foothold on the island, more than 50 Ukrainian saboteurs were destroyed. Twenty-four bodies of slain Ukrainian soldiers remained on the shores of Snake Island," Konashenkov stressed.

He said that during the operation to repel attacks on the island, four Ukrainian aircraft were downed, including three Sukhoi Su-24 and one Sukhoi Su-27, three Mil Mi-8 helicopters with paratroopers, and one Mil Mi-24 helicopter. Also during an air landing attempt on the evening of May 8, three Project 58181 Ukrainian Centaur armored assault ships with Ukrainian Navy personnel were destroyed.

Meanwhile, over the past two days, 29 Ukrainian drones have been disabled, including eight Bayraktar TB2 drones. Four Bayraktar drones were shot down on Monday afternoon.