will raise “a wave of indignation” –

The death toll from the terrorist attack that took place last night in Moscow is dramatic. Before the concert of Picnic, a much-loved rock band, began, a shooting broke out in the Crocus City Hall concert hall. Harnessing machine guns and throwing incendiary bombs, those responsible were the authors of a massacre of unspeakable brutality. Ambulances and doctors rushed to the scene. When the news was released, a game of accusations began between Moscow and Kiev. Ukrainian Defense Ministry intelligence claimed the attack was a “provocation by the Putin regime”. Ukraine, for its part, called Russia’s reconstruction “absurd”. But what repercussions will this ugly page of violence have on the war that is bringing the heart of Europe to its knees? Is it possible that the Tsar plans to respond using all the means at his disposal?

The casualty count is still ongoing. For now the toll has risen to 143 deaths. “All the authors, organizers and instigators of this crime will suffer a just and inevitable punishment”: this was assured by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The head of state gave a short speech, broadcast on television. In the background two tricolors of Russia. “Whoever they are, whoever directed them,” Putin added, “I repeat: we will identify and punish all those behind the terrorists, all those who prepared this crime.” The president added: “This is a serious blow to Russia, to our people.” The latest events do not bode well and the possibility of escalation seems, for now, increasingly credible. It is reasonable to believe that the head of the Kremlin wants to make Ukraine responsible for the attack.

Many geopolitical analysis experts have outlined less than reassuring scenarios. This hypothesis was confirmed by Serghei Markov, former advisor and supporter of Putin. In an interview with La Stampa, Markov explained that in addition to “ruining Russia’s relations with Muslim countries”, the aim of the terrorist attacks is for Moscow “to respond in a very harsh manner, with direct attacks against the population civilian population of large Ukrainian cities such as Kiev and Kharkiv, ensure that a wave of indignation arises in Western countries, thus guaranteeing funding and perhaps even the sending of NATO troops to Ukraine”.