The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has declassified combat footage related to the capture of the gas extraction platforms near Zmiinyi (Snake) Island in the Black Sea.
As reported by Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service on Facebook, combined special forces from the border guard service and Ukraine’s military intelligence agency have conducted combat operations in order to capture gas production platforms in the Black Sea.
The footage showcases how the operation was prepared by Ukrainian special forces. Furthermore, during the night, under the cover of darkness, the footage shows how Ukrainian special forces fire at the platforms from their vessels in the Black Sea.
Ukrainska Pravda reports that these events took place earlier this year, most likely during the summer.
Some of the facilities have been taken, and now serve as ”our sea fortresses,” the statement reads.
In addition, the capture of these platforms allows Ukraine to control a significant part of the water area and strengthen its defense in the Black Sea against Russian forces.
Earlier in September of this year, reports circulated noting that the capture of Zmiinyi Island by Ukrainian forces would give Ukraine a foothold in the Black Sea. In addition, it threw a lifeline to the economy as billions of dollars in grain exports resumed.
Russian Armed Forces thereafter were still in the possession of several gas rigs east of the island. Russian forces deployed equipment there to monitor Ukrainian forces and track missiles and drones that Kyiv uses to target the occupied Crimean peninsula.
Related:
- WSJ: Ukrainian special forces who liberated Zmiinyi (Snake) Island were lost at sea on a rubber boat for more than a day
- Ukrainian fighter battles exhaustion in 14-hour swim for survival
- Zelenskyy honors 500 days of war with a historic visit to Zmiinyi (Snake) Island
- Russia attacks Zmiinyi (Snake) Island with high-explosive bomb – Ukrainian military
- Russian strategic bomber fires missile at civilian cargo vessel en route to Egypt near Zmiinyi (Snake) Island
