Satellite imagery shows a plume of smoke rising from Snake Island
Russia says it is withdrawing Russian troops from a small island in the Black Sea called Snake Island, which it seized early in the war against Ukraine.
Russia made the announcement after Ukraine launched an offensive on the island.
Moscow says its withdrawal from Snake Island is a "goodwill gesture" and aimed to show that Russia is not blocking the flow of agricultural products from Ukraine.
But the Ukrainian government says Russian troops hurriedly left the island in two speedboats after being attacked with missiles and artillery.
Russia's move comes at a time when Ukraine is launching heavy attacks on the island with missiles and artillery. Wednesday's satellite image shows smoke billowing from the island
Snake Island
With the withdrawal, analysts say, Russia is acknowledging that Ukraine now has a sufficient number of long-range rockets - which it has used to attack Russian positions on the island.
'Important victory for Ukraine'
Russia occupied the island at the very beginning of the Russian campaign in Ukraine. Since then, the two sides have been fighting for control of the island.
Although Ukraine regularly launches missile attacks on the island, at one point Russia consolidated its control over the island. They deployed surface-to-air missiles there - which became a constant threat to Ukrainian forces and warplanes. However, Ukrainian forces also retaliated with warplanes, artillery and missiles.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Russia to retain control of the island, analysts say.
This small rocky island has a lot of strategic value.
In the heart of the Black Sea, this island is only about one square kilometer in size. Whatever its name, it has no snakes, and no eye-catching features.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine War, Snake Island has been identified as a very important island. But who will control the western part of the Black Sea - this small rocky island has a lot of strategic value in determining.
In May, Ukrainian military expert Oleh Zhadanov told : "If Russian troops can occupy the island and deploy their long-range air defenses - then Russia will lose control of the seas, land and airspace of northwestern Black Sea and southern Ukraine. "
After Russia occupied the island, it deployed troops, artillery and missiles. But analysts say the continued attacks by Ukrainian forces have made it increasingly difficult for Moscow to maintain control of the island.
Justin Bronck of the Royal United Services Institute in the United Kingdom says, "Snake Island is such a small island and there is no hiding place where weapons can be hidden. That's why it was a military position for Russia - which is very difficult to hold."
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