Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation regarding the brutal attack in Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, indicating that radical Islamists were behind the act. Though ISIS claimed the responsibility, Putin implied that Ukraine might be using the situation to bolster morale amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Putin’s televised announcement came after a deadly encounter where attackers gunned down concertgoers, leaving 139 dead and 182 injured. The four men of Tajik origin have been arrested and face terrorism charges. Putin questioned the beneficiaries of such an attack, linking it to the ‘neo-Nazi Kyiv regime’ hostile to Russia since 2014. He highlighted the importance of uncovering not just the perpetrators but also those who ordered the crime.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected accusations of Ukraine’s involvement, suggesting that the true source of terror has been Putin’s own regime for the past two decades. Meanwhile, statements from the United States echoed the sentiment that ISIS orchestrated the attack, with no evident connection to the Ukrainian government. Conveying condolences to the victims’ families, U.S. officials emphasized ISIS alone bears responsibility. France’s President Emmanuel Macron concurred, based on intelligence, that it was indeed an ISIS affiliate’s doing. The United States had previously warned Russia about a potential threat from ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan).
The aftermath of the attack led to intense security and judicial actions. Moscow’s authorities detained individuals associated with the attack, including those suspected of aiding the gunmen. Unofficial footage and reports of the suspects in custody, showing visible injuries, raised concerns about potential mistreatment, which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not address. Russian media named a few Tajik individuals suspected of involvement, as the Investigative Committee of Russia sought to piece together connections and motivations behind the attack, all while President Putin insinuated geopolitical implications tied to the ongoing tensions with Ukraine.