Bile is the only settlement on Zmiinyi Ostrov, or Snake Island, a tiny islet that covers roughly 17 hectares (42 acres) on the Black Sea, about 35 kilometers (20 miles) from the Ukrainian coast. It is not clear where the name comes from as there are no snakes on Snake Island. Indeed, until 2007, there were officially no humans either. It is not clear how many people live there today, but the population was estimated at 30-50 in 2015. According to ancient legend, the Trojan War hero Achilles was buried on Snake Island, which hosted a shrine to the Greek soldier that was destroyed when a lighthouse was built in the 19th century. In World War II, Axis forces led by Nazi Germany installed a radio station on Snake Island for Black Sea communications. And radio beacons have served important civilian and military purposes on the island since. Ukraine has issued stamps to celebrate resistance of border guards on Snake Island On February 24, Russian troops invaded Ukraine , … [Read more...] about Ukraine and Russia fight intense battles for Snake Island
Snakes
Rat-eating snake ‘bigger than an adder’ found breeding in the UK
Tom Major radio-tracking a colony of snakes (Image: Dr Wolfgang Wuster) Sign up for FREE for latest news plus tips to save money and the environment SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Aesculapian snakes have been clinging on since one escaped from a zoo almost half a century ago. The non-venomous snakes were imported from Italy by Robert Jackson, founder of the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Conway, in the mid-1960s. Related articles Sexually aroused dolphins seen playing with anaconda in rare encounter 'Spoilt brat' jet skiers filmed careering through seabird colonies In the early 1970s, baby snakes were found in the zoo grounds - being mistaken for grass snakes at the time - but were later identified as Aesculapian … [Read more...] about Rat-eating snake ‘bigger than an adder’ found breeding in the UK
Ukraine morning briefing: Five developments as Russia battles to defend Snake Island
Good morning. Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has continued on Snake Island, with Russia repeatedly trying to reinforce its exposed troops. "If Russia consolidates its position on Zmiinyi Island with strategic air defence and coastal defence cruise missiles, they could dominate the north-western Black Sea," the UK Ministry of Defence tweeted, referring to Snake Island's alternative name. Russia's resupply vessels have minimum protection in the western Black Sea, following the Russian Navy's retreat to Crimea after the loss of the Moskva, the tweet said. Meanwhile, Ukraine has said its forces had recaptured villages from Russian troops north and northeast of the city of Kharkiv, pressing a counter-offensive that could signal a shift in the war's momentum and jeopardise Russia's main advance. Here's what happened overnight – and you can follow the latest updates in our live blog. 1. Ukraine prepared to halt Russian gas flow to Europe Ukraine said it was … [Read more...] about Ukraine morning briefing: Five developments as Russia battles to defend Snake Island
Ukraine morning briefing: Five developments as Ukraine claims to have hit Russian ship at Snake Island
Russian forces who attacked schools in the Chernihiv region were on Thursday night branded 'sick and incurable' by Ukraine's president. Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned what he suggested were senseless attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region and the Donbas. He made his comments as the battle for the Avostal steelworks intensified and the power struggle for Snake Island continued. Here's what happened overnight – and you can follow the latest updates in our live blog . 1. Russian logistics ship hit near Snake Island Ukraine has claimed to have damaged a Russian navy logistics ship near Snake Island, a small but strategic outpost in the Black Sea. Renewed fighting around Snake Island in recent days may become a battle for control of the western Black Sea coast, according to some defence officials, as Russian forces struggle to make headway in Ukraine's north and east. "Thanks to the actions of our naval seamen, the support vessel Vsevolod Bobrov caught fire - it is one of the … [Read more...] about Ukraine morning briefing: Five developments as Ukraine claims to have hit Russian ship at Snake Island
Google Maps sleuths spot ‘Bigfoot’ and ‘giant snakes’ hiding around world
AN EAGLE-EYED TikToker has found shots of mythical and frightening creatures on Google Street View. A shocking Bigfoot look-a-like and giant snakes were spotted by Google's cameras. The TikTok was posted by @googlemapsfun, a popular account with over eight million followers. "A Google Street View user was searching in the woods of Russia when he suddenly discovered something very mysterious," the digitized voice-over said. The poster zoomed in on an ape-like figure that's a dead giveaway for Bigfoot or Sasquatch. While some are intrigued by the video, the top comment is skeptical - a user wrote the Bigfoot figure is a "man in a bigfoot suit who knew Google was coming". Read More in Google Street View HIDE & SEEK US Army's most SECRET bases around the world revealed on Google Maps ROAD RUNNER Google Maps update adds features that will make driving a smoother experience Super-snake The video shifts … [Read more...] about Google Maps sleuths spot ‘Bigfoot’ and ‘giant snakes’ hiding around world
Russian fleet’s flagship that attacked Snake Island ‘sunk by Ukrainian missiles’
The Ukrainian military has sunk one of Vladimir Putin 's biggest warships in the Black Sea, it has been claimed. Multiple sources on social media have claimed that the warship Moskva was destroyed by Ukrainian missiles and sent to 'the bottom of the sea'. It has been reported that unmanned aircraft known as Bayraktar TB-2s were deployed overhead to distract the target ship before the Ukrainian Army shot at it with Neptune missile. Taking to Twitter , one reporter said: "Multiple reports the Moskva one of three Russian Slava Class missile cruisers and the Black Sea flagship was hit by Ukrainian missiles and left burning in the Black Sea." Speaking on Ukrainian TV, presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said: "Moskva had been hit by two Neptune anti ship missiles and was on fire in rough seas." The Russian Defence Ministry have said that the Moskva's crew has been told to evacuate and an investigation is underway into what caused the fire and serious damage on the … [Read more...] about Russian fleet’s flagship that attacked Snake Island ‘sunk by Ukrainian missiles’
Beloved pet dog needed £1,000 anti-venom treatment after deadly snake bite in UK park
A snake bite sent a dog crashing to the ground in eerie silence and could only be saved with £1,000 anti-venom. Paula was walking with her daughter Amy and their two dogs Koda and Willow in Northumberland National Park last month when an adder struck. Mum, Paula thought it was nothing more than a near miss when Koda hit the deck and rolled over in silence. As they continued their walk however the two-year-old Vizsla's face became increasingly swollen in a dog walk of nightmares. She told the Chronicle : "The girls had been on the lead for most of the walk for the sheep. We decided to let them off for that section of the walk - something we will now be doing differently in adder season. "Both dogs went off the track, not too far from us, and we could see they were interested in something so we hotfooted it over and saw the adder - it was small so we thought it was a baby. "As we calmly but quickly made our way over, I came up behind Koda so she was blocking my view … [Read more...] about Beloved pet dog needed £1,000 anti-venom treatment after deadly snake bite in UK park
Letters: The public is paying the price for the poor performance of civil servants
SIR – Work may well not be “a place” in this day and age, but work remains work – and service remains service. I am surely not alone in receiving poor service from government departments, one example being the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver a document to me within its own six-week timescale. Despite regular reminders, escalation to a priority team and an official complaint (which was ignored), my document took six months to arrive. Whatever the cause of such poor service, it is surely the responsibility of senior civil servants to put it right rather than fight battles with their employer at the expense of the public. Rod Barrett SIR – Your front page (May 12) had a report on Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi’s “crackdown” on truancy next to one on senior civil servants in open revolt against the Government’s injunctions to return to the office. As a teacher with 34 years’ experience in comprehensive schools, including a decade as a … [Read more...] about Letters: The public is paying the price for the poor performance of civil servants
It would be absurd for Starmer to resign over a curry
It will, of course, be irresistibly funny if Sir Keir Starmer has to resign , as he promised last night, because of being issued with a fine by police for breaching the Covid lockdown. It will be even funnier if Boris Johnson who, for all his other faults, has been far less sententious, nevertheless stays. Politicians might at last learn the ancient truth that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. However, I must resist my base desire for such a punishment and stick to the important point. In the great scheme of things, the Starmer incident is trivial. Think about it dispassionately. It is preposterous that the Leader of the Opposition should resign if, having eaten a takeaway curry, he did not return to work afterwards and therefore broke the rules. Even if he gave a rather misleading account of the occasion, it would be ridiculous for him to go. It just does not matter nearly enough. No one was harmed in the eating of Sir Keir’s curry. The further we move away from the … [Read more...] about It would be absurd for Starmer to resign over a curry
Dog attack horror after toddler, 3, mauled by guard dog – girl left ‘terrified’
Egdon: Police announce death of a young boy after dog attack Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The incident happened in a park in Wales in August last year, Wales Online reported. The animal was reportedly trained, but could only recognise commands in German, and didn’t understand English when his owner tried to halt the horrific attack. The toddler was in the Barry Sidings Countryside Park in Pontypridd with her grandparents when she was targeted. Related articles Rat-eating snake found breeding in the UK UK's LONELIEST pup is waiting for new home for more than a YEAR She was rushed to Cardiff's University Hospital of … [Read more...] about Dog attack horror after toddler, 3, mauled by guard dog – girl left ‘terrified’