“Committed By Radical Islamists”: Putin On Moscow Attack, Adds “May Be Just A Link” From “Attempts By Kyiv”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has attributed the recent terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Moscow to radical Islamists, suggesting it could be part of a wider campaign orchestrated by the Kyiv regime. Putin’s remarks, reported by Reuters, came on Monday in response to the deadly assault that claimed the lives of at least 137 people and left over 182 injured.

In his statement, Putin acknowledged that the attack was carried out by individuals affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS). However, he emphasized that officials are still investigating who ordered the assault. “We know that the crime was committed by the hands of radical Islamists, whose ideology the Islamic world itself has been fighting for centuries,” Putin stated. “This atrocity may be just a link in a whole series of attempts by those who have been at war with our country since 2014 by the hands of the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.”

The Russian president pointedly raised questions about the attackers’ attempt to flee to Ukraine after the assault, prompting speculation about potential connections or support networks across borders.

The coordinated terrorist attack took place on 22 March 2024, just before a scheduled performance by the Russian band Picnic. Four gunmen initiated a mass shooting and carried out slashing attacks on concertgoers, while also using incendiary devices to set the venue ablaze.

Putin’s comments come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The invasion, launched by Putin under the guise of a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine, has resulted in widespread conflict and humanitarian crises in the region.