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Ukrainian flag on Snake Island
Photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces / REUTERS
Ukrainian soldiers have again hoisted the Ukrainian flag on the symbolic Snake Island in the Black Sea, deserted by Russian troops.
The spokesman for the military administration of the Odessa region Serhiy Brachuk published several photos in the Telegram news service.
The flag was also signed by Odessa's military governor, Maxym Marchenko.
It also bears the inscription: "Remember, 'Russian warship', the island belongs to Ukraine!!!"
According to Ukrainian sources, the island's jetty was "severely damaged" by two Russian missiles in the morning.
Russia later said several Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the attack.
This could not initially be verified independently.
The island is about 35 kilometers from the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta.
Snake Island became widely known a few days after the start of the war in late February through an incident involving a Russian warship.
The ship's crew then asked the Snake Island garrison to lay down their arms.
The Ukrainian marine infantryman Roman Hrybow replied: "Russian warship, fuck off!" The almost 32-year-old then became a folk hero in Ukraine.
A little later, the Russians occupied Snake Island, but withdrew a week ago after sustained Ukrainian air and artillery attacks.
kfr/dpa
