[Goose]

Snake Island to me is a puzzle. Why Russia wants it is a total mystery. It just seems to get Russians killed. It is almost like it is on a list somewhere and nobody dares question the list.

I think it has symbolic value. It's Ukraine's last possession in the Crimean Sea, right?  Maybe that's why they want those patrol boats.  Avoid mines, attack Russian assets in Crimea, perhaps?  And by having Snake Island, they have territorial waters 12 miles in all directions, yes?  Protects some shipping lanes?

Ukraine does not and has not possessed Snake Island since the "Russian ship, go **** yourself" day. They can't. It is totally exposed to Russian aviation against which they have no viable defense. They wouldn't last 5 minutes if they were attacked from the air. They know this. So it protects nothing for Ukraine. Why Ukraine would want it makes sense, as you point out, but they can't defend it.

The question is why Russia wants it. They can maybe, at great cost, defend it. So far, they haven't been able to do so. It has cost them a lot of men and ships that they can't replace. Yes, maybe it is a symbol, but at what cost? It gives them nothing they don't have already. Stupid.

[Goose]

Snake Island to me is a puzzle. Why Russia wants it is a total mystery. It just seems to get Russians killed. It is almost like it is on a list somewhere and nobody dares question the list.

I think it has symbolic value. It's Ukraine's last possession in the Crimean Sea, right?  Maybe that's why they want those patrol boats.  Avoid mines, attack Russian assets in Crimea, perhaps?  And by having Snake Island, they have territorial waters 12 miles in all directions, yes?  Protects some shipping lanes?

Ukraine does not and has not possessed Snake Island since the "Russian ship, go **** yourself" day. They can't. It is totally exposed to Russian aviation against which they have no viable defense. They wouldn't last 5 minutes if they were attacked from the air. They know this. So it protects nothing for Ukraine. Why Ukraine would want it makes sense, as you point out, but they can't defend it.

The question is why Russia wants it. They can maybe, at great cost, defend it. So far, they haven't been able to do so. It has cost them a lot of men and ships that they can't replace. Yes, maybe it is a symbol, but at what cost? It gives them nothing they don't have already. Stupid.