On July 4, Natalia Humenyuk, Head of the Joint Coordinating Press Center of the Defense Forces in the South of Ukraine claimed that the Ukrainian flag was raised over the island and the territory came under Kiev’s control. These claims were spread by Ukrainian media supported by archived photos.
Later on the same day, Ms Humenyuk was obliged to clarify that her words should be taken metaphorically. In fact, the flag was just thrown from a helicopter and was “waiting for Ukrainian servicemen to raise it”. She claimed that noone would sacrifice the lives of Ukrainian servicemen for a photo with the flag. However, her claims were ignored by the Ukrainian media and Kiev’s officials.
Amid a large media campaign launched by the Kiev regime, a special operation was launched on the island to finally raise the flag. The risky operation aimed at taking a photo and claiming another groundless victory failed and resulted in deaths of Ukrainian servicemen.
The Kiev regime has ρáíd a high price for another fake victory. The island remains in the so-called gray zone after the Russian military left it. At the same time, Kiev’s forces cannot land there and establish any military positions as the area is under control of the Russian Black Sea fleet and the Aerospace Forces.