Simonian calls destroyed Ukrainian bridges 'ours' and justifies Russia's actions

Justifying destruction through 'obligations'

Margarita Simonian, editor-in-chief of the RT channel, expressed the view that Russia did not intend to destroy bridges and other infrastructure in Ukraine. According to her, the Russian leadership hoped to reach an agreement but was allegedly forced to act differently. She stated this during an appearance on the air of the Russian state television channel Rossiya 1.

«Ну, змусили, ну, доводиться, ну, що ж поробиш» ("Well, they forced us, well, we had to, well, what can you do"), Simonian stated, commenting on the situation with the destruction.

Position on 'shared land'

Explaining why, in her opinion, Russia had still been "tender" towards Ukraine, the propagandist emphasised the presence of certain sentimental feelings towards these territories. «У нас є певні сентиментальні почуття до цієї землі, адже це наша земля» ("We have certain sentimental feelings towards this land, because it is our land"), she said.

Simonian also claimed that Russia and Ukraine share a common cultural heritage. As proof of this connection, she mentioned the writer Mykola Gogol. «Культура ж все-таки одна. Все-таки у нас є лише один письменник Гоголь, який називав себе російсько-хохладським» ("After all, the culture is one. After all, we have only one writer, Gogol, who called himself Russian-Kokhlytsky"), noted the editor-in-chief of RT.

Forecasts regarding the end of the war

During her speech, Simonian expressed hope for the imminent end of hostilities. She is convinced that after this, Russians and Ukrainians will be able to return to previous relations.

«І ось тут мені дуже хочеться згадати про це на майбутнє, коли все це закінчиться, а все це закінчиться, і, здається, з Божою допомогою – досить скоро» ("And here I really want to mention this for the future, when all this ends, and all this will end, and, it seems, with God's help – quite soon"), she declared.

Focus on sovereignty and 'nobility'

A separate part of her speech was dedicated by Simonian to issues of Russian sovereignty. She listed the food, pharmaceutical, digital, and military sectors, emphasising the need for their development.

At the end of the broadcast, the propagandist called Russians "powerful and at the same time noble". To confirm this, she mentioned stories about helping German prisoners of war, which, according to her, her mother-in-law had told her.