KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) – Russian forces announced on Thursday they had abandoned the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island, in a major victory for Ukraine that could loosen the grip of Russia’s grain export blockade. Russia’s defence ministry described the decision to withdraw from the outcrop as a “gesture of goodwill” that showed Moscow was not obstructing United Nations efforts to open a humanitarian corridor allowing grains to be shipped from Ukraine’s ports. But Ukraine said it had driven the Russian forces out after a massive artillery and assault overnight. “KABOOM!” tweeted Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff. “No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job.” Ukraine’s southern military command posted an image on Facebook of what appeared to be the island, seen from the air, with five huge columns of black smoke rising above it from […]