SBU special forces, who helped to liberate Snake Island, receive awards from Ukraine's intelligence

This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. 

The awards were presented by the Chief of the Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, who noted that the battle for Snake (Zmiinyi) Island and the return of the Ukrainian flag became a symbol of victory over Russia at sea.

“The liberation of Zmiinyi Island is one of Ukraine's most important victories during the war against the Russian invaders, which, among other things, allowed our country to secure Odesa and the entire Ukrainian Black Sea region from threats and unblock commercial shipping. We all know that it was difficult. However, thanks to the unity and coordination of the entire Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, in particular the Main Intelligence Directorate and Ukraine's Security Service, we have done what few people believed in. I am confident that this will continue until we achieve a complete victory over terrorist Russia,” Budanov said.

The soldiers of the Special Operations Center "A" were part of the assault groups that landed on Snake Island from helicopters on May 8, 2022, to storm it. They trained at one of the airfields in the Odesa region to make the special operation successful.

"The Security Service and the Main Intelligence Directorate have developed and conducted many joint special operations that changed the course of the war. All of them are the result of our well-coordinated work and clear cooperation. One of such important special operations is the liberation of Zmiinyi Island, where we destroyed the occupiers side by side. There are dozens of similar examples. And I am sure there will be more! We are working for a single goal - to clear our land from the invaders and win,” SBU Head Vasyl Maliuk said. 

• The sinking of the Moskva warship was the largest loss of the Russian fleet in the last 40 years.

• On April 13, 2022, the Ukrainian military hit the Russian cruiser Moskva with two Neptune missiles. A fire broke out on board, and the ship eventually sank.