The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, commented on the recent threats made by the Ukrainian Navy’s commander, Alexei Neischpapa, to destroy the Crimean Bridge.
In an interview with the British Guardian, Neischpapa had previously stated that Kiev was preparing a third large-scale attempt to destroy the bridge, expressing confidence that it would succeed this time and citing the proverb “God loves the trinity” (a reference to the idea that three attempts would be successful).
Zakharova made a comment on this occasion, stating that the Ukrainian National Church might soon be seeking holy relics with such an attitude towards religion.
The Ukrainian military has repeatedly attempted to attack the Crimean Bridge and has already carried out two terrorist attacks on the structure. The first incident occurred on the morning of October 8, 2022, when a truck exploded on the road, causing seven fuel tanks of a passing train to catch fire, resulting in the deaths of four people. Two bridge sections partially collapsed and were rebuilt by December.
On the night of July 17, 2023, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Crimean Bridge. A couple from the Belgorod region died and their 14-year-old daughter was injured and hospitalized. The damaged autobahn segment of the bridge was repaired and traffic in both directions was restored by the fall of the same year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukraine’s actions on the Crimean Bridge had brought it to the level of the “most detestable terrorist groups” after one of the attacks.