Since Russia attacked Ukraine at the end of February this year, the Black Sea Island of Cobra has played a strategic role in this conflict, which has been discussed since the first day of the war. Last week, the Russians consolidated their dominance over the region.
Dominating Kobra Island means controlling all traffic in the port of Odessa, which is considered important to those concerned, as well as representing one of the main points of Ukrainian resistance.
The island is about 48 kilometers off the coast of Ukraine and close to shipping routes to the Bosphorus and the Mediterranean. Although it is known as Cobra Island, there are no snakes on the site. Conflicts around the island could turn into a war for control of the western shores of the Black Sea.
The main point that ‘eyes’ for Kobra Island and makes it strategic is that, if occupied by Russia, for example, it could block all exports of goods leaving the local port. It also makes it possible to control all maritime traffic around Ukraine’s largest port city.
“Russian ship, go f…”
Kobra Island has become a hotspot of Ukrainian resistance after a group of border guards rejected a surrender ultimatum by soldiers aboard the Russian ship Moskva. There appeared the phrase that resonated around the world: “Russian warship, go f…”.
The words were spoken in response to a negotiation in which Russian soldiers told the Ukrainians to lay down their weapons, otherwise they would be bombed. Recordings of the speech went viral around the world.
The phrase became so popular that it became a phrase seen on anti-war posters, and even family members of the deceased soldier tried to trademark the phrase. The Ukrainian postal service even created a commemorative stamp with the famous printed phrase.
In the midst of the war, the simple act became symbolic of resistance to the Russian advance and became synonymous with local heroism.
strategic location
Cobra Island is also strategically important because of its mineral wealth from the sea. The island has an area of 0.17 square kilometers and a population of less than 100, most of whom are border guards, meteorological service workers and a naval research station.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a television interview that Ukraine will fight for the island as long as necessary, and that “whoever controls the island can prevent any southward movement of civilian ships in any direction”. Ukraine”.
The island contains 46 acres of rocks and grasses that are free of fresh water. It is more than 180 miles from Crimea, which joined Russia in 2014. But while Russia’s claim to this place as its own makes no geographical or historical sense, its strategic value in the face of conflict can tell a lot.
Weeks ago, photos from Maxar’s GeoEye-1 satellite showed footage of the attacks on Cobra Island, one of which suggested the sinking of a Russian Serna-class spacecraft. The satellite also showed traces of smoke, possibly from munitions and ship-launched missiles. Weeks ago, Ukraine admitted that its drones had succeeded in sinking two Russian patrol boats off the island.
Although it is considered very obvious, it is an important point that facilitates the attack base of the troops. It has recently been the target of attacks on buildings, helicopters and ships. The attack of the Russians took place from the first day of the conflict with the aim of seizing the ground. The island offers a shooting platform that increases its combat potential. Since 2009, a court decision has determined that the island belongs to Ukraine after a conflict with Romania.
Kobra Island also offers other strategic and essential points such as blocking air and sea access to any Ukrainian coastline. On the other hand, the small extension of land makes the island vulnerable.
Russian domain
Although the scene of Ukrainian resistance, the island now lives under Russian domination, which expanded last week.
The latest satellite images of this islet, located off the coasts of Ukraine and Romania, make it possible to distinguish between different types of surface-to-air defenses. The Russians also installed defense systems on nearby ships to supplement the protection.
“The Russians have deployed several anti-aircraft systems on the island covering various threat spectra: SA-13, Pantsir, Tor, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns,” said French researcher Pierre Grasser, expert on Russian Defense.
“They have recently consolidated their position (…) Strategically, all this makes sense even before the new Ukrainian sources,” analyzes a French military source, who asked not to be identified.
With information from AFP
source: Noticias
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