n the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian warships appeared off a small rock in the Black Sea. Snake Island was, it turned out, minimally defended. But it is strategically located and could potentially provide intelligence to Ukrainian forces about shipping in the area. And taking the island could be symbolic of Russia’s expected victory. History will remember the reaction of the defenders. Border guard Roman Hrybov famously replied to demands to surrender “Russian warship, go F*** yourself!“. The warship sitting off the island was none other than Moskva, the most powerful warship in the Black Sea. A...
