Snake Island or Snake Island is only a small island covering an area of about 0.17 square kilometers and at first glance it doesn't really matter. But since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this island has played a very crucial role in the conflict.
Contrary to its name, there are actually no snakes on the island. It is located on the Black Sea, about 48 kilometers from the coast of Ukraine. Russia itself has never actually claimed the island as its own because it is too far from mainland Russia.
However, Snake Island is strategically located. So from the beginning of the war with Ukraine, Russia immediately occupied the island. Two Russian warships managed to seize it from the Ukrainian side.
Ukraine did not give up so easily and tried to retake it with repeated bombings but to no avail. What is the importance of this almost uninhabited island?
The answer was yes, the location of Snake Island is very strategic. If it manages to take full control of it, then Russia is worried that it could pose a major threat to mainland Ukraine.
Very strategic Snake Island. Photo: BBC
Not only that, Ukraine will find it increasingly difficult to send food exports from the port of Odesa to other countries because the route is close to the island.
No wonder Ukraine is trying its best to disturb Russia on the island by deploying fighter planes, drones to special forces. Russia did not give up and continued to try to control Snake Island completely.
"If the Russian army succeeds in occupying Snake Island and establishing a long-range rocket defense system, they will control the seas, lands and air in the northwest of the Black Sea and south of Uraina," said Ukrainian military expert, By Zdanov.
"If Russia is successful in installing long-range air defense systems, they will be able to defend the squadron and be able to reach Ukrainian ports," he added.
Not only to Ukraine, the Russian army can also strengthen its position in Transnistria, a territory that broke away from Moldova not far from the port of Odesa.
Snake Island is also only 45 kilometers away from the port of Romania, a NATO member state. Military analyst Jonathan Bentham of the UK believes that if Russia can install a sufficiently sophisticated S-400 air missile system, Romania could be in danger as well.
"This is very important for the Romanian government and its citizens, as well as for the entire (NATO) alliance. Russia will have the capacity to destroy cities and militaries in the east of our territory," said Romanian historian Dorin Dobrinchu.
NATO has actually helped strengthen Russia's defenses from the start of the conflict with Ukraine, by deploying Belgian and French troops to the country.