Economic and environmental conflicts: dispute

between Romania and Ukraine over Snake Island

Zaika Kateryna ME-92a.an
Historical background

Zmiinyi became a part of the USSR in 1948 and immediately became the subject
of Soviet-Romanian disputes. Finally, Romania recognized its belonging to
Ukraine only 11 years ago. The second circumstance concerns the interpretation
of this tiny piece of land (615 by 560 m) as an island or a rock. In the first case,
Ukraine would have the right to a closer continental shelf, which would be
considered as our exclusive economic zone. In the second, there are no territorial
consequences. In the basic Ukrainian-Romanian treaty on good neighborliness
and cooperation in 1997, Zmiiny was mentioned as an island. The Romanian side
questioned this only when Chernomorneftegaz in 2001 discovered significant
deposits of oil and gas south of the apple. According to various estimates, the
shelf in the area hides 10-15 million tons of oil and from 10 to 100 billion cubic
meter of gas.
First dispute

In 2004, Romania filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice

regarding the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic
zones. At the same time, Bucharest insisted that Zmiinyi is a rock, while
Ukraine struggled to prove the opposite: in 2007, it built an economic and
tourist infrastructure, created the village of Biele. But Kiev's efforts proved
futile. While Ukraine buried millions in the rocky soil of Zmiinyi, Romania
acted more efficiently: it attracted lobbyists (well-known oil companies),
worked with potential judges. For legal costs in the Romanian budget was
spelled out a separate line. Undoubtedly, in favor of Bucharest played and
membership in the European Union – Brussels helps its members to
resolve territorial disputes. In the end, the court recognized snake island,
but... too small to account for when determining the delimitation line.
 Ukrainian diplomats say they are satisfied
with this result. "It is very important that
the last problematic situation has been
Ukrainian removed in Ukrainian-Romanian
relations," Deputy Foreign Minister of
diplomats Ukraine Oleksandr Kupchyshyn said in The
Hague. He called the line of demarcation a
opinions compromise. And Deputy Head of the
Presidential Secretariat Andriy Honcharuk
noted that most of the explored deposits
remained on the Ukrainian side.
Court decision

Having studied the arguments of the parties and the history of the issue,
as well as possible precedents, the court made a unanimous decision: The
maritime border line separating the continental shelf and the exclusive
economic zones of Romania and Ukraine in the Black Sea begins with
point 1, which is recognized by the parties in Article 1 of the Treaty
between Ukraine and Romania on the regime of the Ukrainian-Romanian
state border of 2003, passes an arc with a radius of 12 nautical miles, that
separates the territorial sea around snake island to point 2 with
coordinates of 45°03'18.5'' north latitude and 30°12'21.5'' east longitude,
where this arc intersects with a line drawn at equal distances from the
continental coast of Romania and Ukraine.
Court decision

From point 2, the demarcation line passes an equidistant line through

points 3 (coordinates 44°46'38.7'' north latitude and 30°58'37.3'' east
longitude) and 4 (coordinates 44°44'13 4' north latitude and 31°10'27.7''
east latitude) to point 5 (coordinates 44°02'53.0'' north latitude and
31°24'35.0'' east latitude). From point 5, the sea border passes
equidistant from the Romanian and Ukrainian coasts in a direction to the
south, ranging from the geodetic azimuth 185°23'54.5'' to the point where
it intersects with the economic zone of Turkey. Such passage of the
demarcation line, in fact, accurately reproduces the line proposed by the
Soviet side at the negotiations on demarcation with Romania in 1987.
 In 2002, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the
program of economic activity on Fr. Zmiinyi until 2006.

During the implementation of a comprehensive

infrastructure development program on Fr. Zmiinyi for the
period 2002-2006. UAH 47 million was mastered. (of which
UAH 38.7 million were allocated from the state budget).

Modernity Within the framework of the program, the island was

transferred to the Kiliya district of the Odessa region,
partially demilitarized (the radio engineering unit was
withdrawn and the radar was dismantled). Also on the island
built a berth for ships draught up to 8 meters, breakwater,
several outbuildings, planted trees. A berth for a small-
tonnage fleet is being built. In the future, it is planned to
open tourist and diving centers and establish a permanent
shipping connection with Kiliya
 The island has opened mail, a branch of Bank Aval, a mobile relay, and
cable communication has been established. In 2003, a research station
"Snake Island" was created on the island, where scientists of the Odessa
National University are constantly working by watch method. I. I.
Mechnikov.
Uah 253.3 million is envisaged for the implementation of the total
infrastructure development program for Fr. Zmiinyi for the period 2007-
2011, approved on December 27, 2006.

Zmiiny ostriv At the beginning of 2007, about 80 people permanently lived on the
island: border guards, scientists, lighthouse technicians, etc.

2021 On February 8, 2007, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution

on granting economic and residential buildings on Zmiinye, the status of a
village with the name White and subordination to the Kiliya district. This
resolution caused protests expressed in a verbal note by Romanian
diplomats, which Ukrainian side regarded as interference in internal
affairs.
Several pigs and goats are kept on Zmiinye, many chickens. Vegetables are
grown on small pieces of land. The biggest problem is the lack of sources
of fresh water, so it is brought from the mainland. Transport connection of
the island with the mainland is carried out using a helicopter (for this
purpose a special platform is arranged) or sea vessels (vessel "Kosatka").
There are highways and several cars on the island.
 On February 24, 2022, as a result of the attack of the
Russian occupation troops on the island of Zmiiny
with the guided missile cruiser "Moscow", the
servicemen of the border detachment, an ultimatum
was given and they were threatened with murder if
the Ukrainian border guards did not lay down their
Russian – weapons and turn off the radar systems. On the
same day, the Russian invaders captured 13
Ukrainian border guards, who had previously
Ukrainian war announced on the radio the catchphrase of this war:
"Russian warship, go to ...".

2022 On March 13, 2022, Maxar Technologies released a

clear satellite image of the island, which shows
damage to buildings, craters from bombings and the
Russian large landing ship Project 775. Ropucha).