Satellite images released shortly after the Ukraine attack showed smoke rising into the sky from the small pier in the north of the island, with another place smoking further inland.
Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, said Ukrainian-made Bohdana shells were used to strike Russian positions on Snake Island.
Controlling the island of snakes is considered crucial to unblock the Russian blockade of the Black Sea ports of Ukraine.
Millions of tons of grain have been left to rot in Odessa with tankers unable to leave the area, which has led to fears of a global food crisis.
In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the withdrawal of its troops was tactical and to allow grain exports.
“In order to organize grain humanitarian corridors as part of the implementation of the joint agreements reached with the participation of the UN, the Russian Federation decided to abandon its positions on Zmiinyi Island,” he said.
Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, became infamous on the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when a Ukrainian border guard told a Russian warship to “go to shit.” “instead of surrendering.
It was initially reported that the border guards were killed, but were later released as part of a prisoner exchange.
Since then there has been an almost constant battle for control of the island and the Russians have finally been the most successful.