Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Honors Soldiers on 500th Day of War with Visit to Snake Island in the Black Sea

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the 500th day of the war by visiting Snake Island in the Black Sea and honoring the Ukrainian soldiers who fought for the island. In a video released from the island, Zelenskyy said that reclaiming control of the island “is a great proof that Ukraine will regain every bit of its territory.”

The island was captured by Russian forces, and its soldiers were immortalized by their fiery response to Russian troops who demanded surrender early in the war. Zelenskyy laid flowers at a memorial on the island and then released wreaths onto the water.

“I want to thank — from here, from this place of victory — each of our soldiers for these 500 days,” Zelenskyy said. “Today we are on Zmiinyi Island – on our Zmiinyi Island, which will never be conquered by the occupier, like the whole of Ukraine, because we are a country of the brave.”

The war has been a difficult one for Ukraine, with Russia taking aim at civilians as it turns attention back to the conflict. Despite the challenges, Zelenskyy’s visit to Snake Island is a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience and determination to reclaim its territory.

It is not clear when the video was filmed, as Zelenskyy was visiting Turkey on Saturday. However, the video serves as a reminder of the 500 days of full-scale war that Ukraine has endured, and of the bravery of its soldiers in the face of the Russian invasion.