Kremlin refuses to comment on ISIS's claim in the attack and seeks to involve Ukraine. Putin quickly sought to use the attack to serve his political goals with a declaration of apparent intent to escalate the war.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, but Russian authorities have stated that the alleged killers were trying to flee to Ukrainian territory after the attack. Kiev, faced with the Russian offensive for more than two years, has firmly denied any involvement in the attacks. The number of injured was 182, of whom 97 remained hospitalized on Monday, according to authorities.