we have nothing to do with the attack –

Over 140 dead and dozens injured in what represents one of the worst terrorist attacks in Russia in recent years. A “bloody and barbaric” attack according to President Vladimir Putin who addressed citizens in a televised speech a few hours after the massacre at Crocus City Hall, a concert hall near Moscow. The massacre was claimed by the Islamic State which later published photos of the four alleged attackers, underlining how the attack falls within the context of the “furious war” between the jihadist group itself and the enemies of Islam. Not enough for Moscow which continues to see Kiev’s shadow behind the assault. In announcing the arrest of the four terrorists, Putin said that “on the Ukrainian side” a ‘window’ had been “prepared” to allow them to “cross the border”. The Kremlin has announced that at least 11 people have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the massacre, all of whom – the Russian Interior Ministry specified – are foreign citizens. But Moscow investigators continue to focus on the possible links between the attackers and Ukraine. According to the Russian Security Service (FSB) the four “criminals after committing the terrorist attack” intended to “cross the Russian-Ukrainian border and had important contacts on the Ukrainian side”.

There is no direct accusation of Kiev’s involvement in organizing the attack but in Moscow, despite ISIS claiming responsibility, suspicions remain and risk leading to a new escalation of the ongoing conflict. The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, recalled that in recent years Ukraine “has conducted active and systematic terrorist activities against Russian citizens”, referring to “planned bombings of residential areas, including kindergartens, schools, medical institutions , attacks on important civilian infrastructure, including transport and energy facilities, attacks against public figures and journalists”. Kiev denied any responsibility from the first moments of the attack. “We expected the version of Russian officials on the ‘Ukrainian trail’ of the attack,” commented the advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Mikhailo Podolyak, who for this reason accused the FSB of “primitivism and predictability”. Any “attempt to link Ukraine to the terrorist attack is absolutely untenable” and “Ukraine has not the slightest connection with this incident,” Podolyak clarified.

Fears of possible Russian retaliation in Ukraine remain alive in the international community which nevertheless united in condemning the attack as a sign of solidarity with the Russian people and the victims. The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, while saying he was “saddened” for the families of those killed, hoped that “this terrible tragedy will not become a pretext for an escalation of violence for anyone”. NATO, with spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah, expressed disapproval of the attack, underlining that “nothing can justify such heinous crimes”. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke of a “horrific event” and expressed Washington’s condemnation of terrorism “in all its forms”. Putin has meanwhile proclaimed national mourning in the country for March 24 and announced additional anti-terrorism and anti-sabotage measures in Moscow after the massacre.