Gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall, a prominent music concert venue in the western part of Moscow Oblast, according to a report by Russian-state news agency RIA Novosti.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the death toll from the incident stands at 133 individuals. The attack has been deemed a “terrorist attack” by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and prominent Russian officials. In response, the authorities have apprehended a total of 11 individuals believed to be connected to the attack, with four of them allegedly directly involved.
Ukraine had previously asserted its belief that Putin was responsible for the attack on his own people.
“This deliberate act by Putin’s special services is a clear provocation, as warned by the international community. The tyrant of the Kremlin began his career with such actions and now seeks to end it in the same manner – by committing crimes against his own citizens,” stated Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for DIU, in an interview with Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda.
On Friday, Newsweek sent emails to the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries to request comments. However, Newsweek was unable to independently verify the Ukrainian allegations concerning the attack.
In February 2022, Ukraine faced a full-scale invasion from Russia, as the latter aimed to overthrow the government in Kyiv. Despite initial expectations of a swift takeover by the Kremlin, the conflict persists as Ukrainian forces successfully repelled the initial invasion.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, has put forward the possibility that Ukraine may be responsible for the attack.
According to AP, Russia’s Investigative Committee has reported that four of the suspects involved in the attack were apprehended near the Ukraine border. Tass has also mentioned that these suspects are believed to have had connections in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, stated on Friday that there is currently no indication of Ukrainian involvement in the situation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova questioned the basis on which officials in Washington draw conclusions about someone’s innocence in the midst of a tragedy. According to Reuters, she emphasized the need for Moscow to be provided with any information regarding the attack.
Ekaterina Zolotova, an analyst for Geopolitical Futures, recently discussed the speculation surrounding the attack in an email sent to Newsweek.
There have been rumors circulating, suggesting that the incident was either a Russian false flag operation or a Ukrainian plot. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to support either claim, and the Ukrainian government has explicitly denied any involvement.
The Kremlin is facing a particularly delicate situation, as the recent attack occurs at a time when it cannot afford to appear or be vulnerable, especially considering the ongoing war.
Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Embassy issued a warning on March 7, advising Americans to steer clear of concert venues in Moscow.
The Embassy is closely monitoring reports indicating that extremists have plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to avoid attending large gatherings in the next 48 hours.
Putin and the Russian-state security services have faced accusations from Kremlin critics that they orchestrated a “false flag” operation in relation to the series of 1999 apartment bombings in Russia. These attacks were initially attributed to Arab militants and Chechnya supporters who were against Russia.
The series of bombings resulted in the loss of over 300 lives, serving as a catalyst for Putin’s rise to power and the initiation of a full-scale war in Chechnya.
