Russia Blames Ukraine, West for Moscow Concert Hall Attack

Moscow: Russia on Tuesday shifted blame for the recent Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western allies, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the devastating incident that claimed the lives of at least 139 people.

The Kremlin’s security services are facing scrutiny over how gunmen were able to carry out the deadliest attack in Russia in over two decades. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the involvement of “radical Islamists” but insinuated a connection to Ukraine, suggesting it was linked to the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB security agency, implied that Western and Ukrainian special services facilitated the attack. However, Ukraine vehemently denied any involvement, with a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Russia of attempting to deflect attention from its intelligence agencies’ failures.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko contradicted Russia’s narrative, stating that the attackers had attempted to enter Belarus before heading towards Ukraine. This revelation undermines Russia’s claims and adds complexity to the situation.

Despite public and private warnings from the United States, Russia’s security agencies failed to prevent the massacre, prompting questions about their effectiveness. Islamic State jihadists claimed responsibility for the attack, sharing graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue.

Putin, facing criticism in the aftermath of the attack, acknowledged the involvement of “radical Islamists” but sought to connect it to Ukrainian provocations. However, he provided no evidence to support his claims.