Russian missile strike in Odessa kills at least ten people

"At least ten people were killed after a missile strike on an apartment building in the southern
Ukrainian city of Odessa." WION

What Really Happened on Snake Island?

"Snake Island’s position in the Black Sea allows guns and missiles stationed there to help

control the waters through which much of Ukraine’s imports and exports travel. Or used to, before the war.

Russia took the island early on, but defiant Ukrainian troops there immediately became a symbol of resistance.

“Russian ship, f*** you,” was reportedly the semiofficial Ukrainian reply to the Russian warship Moskva (since sunk) ordering them off the island.

Needless to say, after all that, there’s a lot of prestige that comes with possession of Snake Island on top of its strategic significance.

That’s why both sides are claiming victory, even if only of a sort: “Unable to withstand the fire of Ukraine’s artillery, missile and air strikes, Russian army left Snake Island,” the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, said.

The last Russian troops left — some say “fled” due to heavy fire — by speedboat early on Thursday.

Moscow claims a sort of moral victory: Russia’s ministry of defence stated that it had completed its assigned tasks and was tactically withdrawing to allow for grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.

Russia could easily allow grain shipments while still holding Snake Island. It’s real simple: Make it known that ships are free to pass and then refrain from sinking them. On the other hand, if your goal is to maintain a stranglehold on your enemy’s economy, you keep possession of the island vital to doing just that. 

So this claim that Russia has suddenly grown a conscience about grain supplies doesn’t wash.

Economics aside, retreating under heavy fire and then saying, “I meant to do that!” is a pretty sad justification." PJMedia

Ukraine --144 of the country's soldiers have returned in a prisoner swap with Russia

"Ukrainian authorities said 144 of the country's soldiers have returned in a prisoner swap with
Russia. Of those released, 95 are fighters who defended the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol, which Russian troops captured in May." NPR