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Ukraine claims to now be in control. “At the moment, we control (the island) with the help of our weapons: long-range artillery, rocket units, and aviation,” reads a statement from the Ukraine military. 

The Russian Defense Ministry has described leaving Snake Island as “a goodwill gesture.” He claims the retreat demonstrates that “Russia is not interfering” with the UN's efforts to create a safe maritime trade route to export Ukrainian grain.

Ukraine strongly disputes the Russian statement saying, “There’s a lot of talk from Russia about pulling out from Snake Island being a goodwill gesture,” said Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

“Allegedly, this means Russia does not interfere with humanitarian corridors to export Ukrainian grain. That’s absolutely false.”

The size and composition of the Russian garrison at the island remain unclear, just as how much of this force Moscow managed to evacuate.

“Step by step, we will push (Russia) out of our sea, our land, our sky,” Ukraine President Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.