Beyond the various defense systems put in place by Russia to limit the bombardments on the island taken at the start of the war, the Russian defenses “are mainly there to counter the removal of Ukrainian commandos on the island”, explains Pierre Grasser, Russian Defense specialist, recalling that kyiv has already attempted the coup at least once, on the night of May 7 to 8. The commandos had been decimated.
On Friday, the Ukrainians claimed to have struck with a missile a Russian auxiliary vessel with an anti-aircraft system on board near the island. On Twitter, defense analyst HI Sutton, a specialist in naval issues, believes that “these buildings are used to supply” the island, which is “of strategic importance. It’s not just a pebble, it’s a territory. And it is strategically located, not only from a military point of view, but economically,” he recalls.
The island is indeed located off the mouth of the Danube, one of the most important rivers in Europe and a commercial artery of the continent. Whoever controls it can possibly target that mouthpiece. It could also serve as a firing platform towards Odessa, or even Romania. Finally, there are hydrocarbon deposits nearby.