Sebastopol, June 24, 2024
Photo: RIA-Novosti
Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted on Russian TV that Kiev did not accidentally choose the great Orthodox Christian feast of Holy Trinity Sunday (Pentecost) to launch a cluster bomb attack on Sebastopol, which killed 4 persons (including three children) and injuring 153 as they were enjoying a day at the beach. 79 were hospitalized, some in serious condition; 27 of those hospitalized were children.
Photo: RIA-Novosti
American ATACMS missiles and American drone surveillance were used in the strike, according to official information on Russian news agencies.
Photo: Y.Krymova / rg.ru
Zakharova called it a “ritual” crime. “I am absolutely sure that the dates for such things—although they have become regular occurrences—like these terrorist acts from Zelensky were not chosen at random. The Day of the Holy Trinity. And we also understand what is the essence of the Kiev regime—profound hatred for everything connected with Russia, with Russian culture. And of course, (this means) Orthodoxy and Christianity as a whole. These ritual—as they must be called—crimes coincide precisely with great feast days,” Zakharova stated on the Russia 24 TV channel.
On the same holy day, there was also a terrorist attack by Islamists in the Dagestani Republic of the Russian Federation. Islamic terrorists killed an elderly Orthodox priest as well as a church guard, and set fire to two Orthodox churches and a Jewish synagogue. Twelve public defense officers were also killed in the ensuing shootouts. A number of Dagestanis have left comments on Russian Telegram channels that the vast majority of Dagestanis do not support Islamic radicalization in their native land. However, outside forces have played a large role in the radicalization of certain sub-cultures, even while Dagestani soldiers are fighting and dying in Russia’s Special Military Operation.
Another RF official, governor of Cherson Vladimir Saldo, commented earlier this month after artillery fire by Ukrainian armed forces on civilians in Russian-controlled Cherson region killed or wounded several civilians on June 13: “Let me remind you that today is a significant Orthodox holiday—the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. However, for the Kiev schismatics who have turned away from the true faith, this is just an excuse to intensify their terror. There is nothing sacred left in their souls.”
