The primary clear satellite tv for pc picture has emerged of Snake Island, the place Ukrainian defenders famously responded to the specter of Russian invasion with the phrases: "Russian warship, go f--- your self."
The picture, taken on Sunday by Maxar Applied sciences, exhibits harm to some buildings from Russian army strikes, in addition to a Russian naval vessel anchored within the Black Sea.
It backs studies from the start of the Russian invasion that the island got here underneath assault after its Ukrainian garrison rejected Russian give up calls for.
The Ukrainian troops had been all killed — and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned they might be "awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously" — however later the Ukrainian army mentioned they had been "alive and effectively" and brought prisoner.
In line with the Ukrainian Navy, the garrison on the island repelled two assaults by Russian forces however in the long run was pressured to give up "because of the lack of ammunition".
A Ukrainian assertion mentioned that Russian attackers destroyed the island's infrastructure, together with lighthouses, towers and antennas — a few of the harm that may now be seen within the new satellite tv for pc picture.
Within the picture, a few of the red-roofed buildings within the island's centre are proven to have been considerably broken by Russian shelling.
Though components of the island are snow-covered, impression craters may be seen dotting the island.
The ship seen offshore was recognized by Maxar as a Ropucha-class touchdown ship.
Snake Island, often known as Zmiinyi Island, sits about 48 kilometres off the Ukrainian mainland's southern tip within the northwestern Black Sea.
The harm wrought by Russia's assaults on civilian areas
It is about 297 kilometres west of Crimea, the Ukrainian territory Russia annexed in 2014.
Although it's only about 18 hectares in dimension, a report final yr from the non-partisan Atlantic Council suppose tank referred to as it "key to Ukraine's maritime territorial claims" within the Black Sea.
Highlighting its strategic significance, Mr Zelensky selected Snake Island final yr because the spot for an interview with Ukrainian media upfront of a summit to attempt to reverse Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Atlantic Council report mentioned.