As of: March 29, 2024, 5:09 a.m
By: Franziska Schwarz
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Split
Islamists have claimed responsibility for the mass murder near Moscow. According to a report, Kremlin boss Putin wants to stick to his view of things.
Moscow – Was Ukraine involved in the attack near Moscow? Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin said this. In any case, people in his inner circle have a different opinion. Four Kremlin officials agreed that there was no evidence for this suspicion, the
Bloomberg news agency reported.
Accordingly, Putin was present at discussions about the bloody attack in Moscow, where it was emphasized that Ukraine had no involvement. However, Russia's president remains "determined" to use the attack near Moscow to give his compatriots further justification for the war in Ukraine he is waging, said an insider who wished to remain anonymous.
Bloomberg
informants also said
that “almost no one” from the Russian political and business elite believes that Ukraine was behind the attack near Moscow. Instead, the insiders said, they were shocked by the failure of the Russian domestic intelligence service, the FSB.
Attack near Moscow: Experts suspect IS offshoot ISPK was behind it
Despite credible letters of responsibility from Islamist terrorists, the secretary of Russia's National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, has blamed Ukraine for the attack near Moscow. The 72-year-old - who has repeatedly appeared as a strong supporter of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - did not explain how he came to this assessment when he spoke to journalists in Moscow on March 26.
The terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) has already claimed responsibility for the attack near Moscow several times. Western security authorities and experts also believe this is credible and suspect the IS offshoot Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISPK) is behind it.
Nevertheless, Russian officials have been claiming for days, without providing any evidence, that Ukraine could be involved. Kyiv strictly rejects this.
Who is responsible for the attack near Moscow? Vladimir Putin faces opposition from within his own ranks. © Mikhail Metzel/Imago
Mass murder near Moscow: Putin sees trail through IS all the way to Ukraine
Putin, meanwhile, appeared somewhat more reserved. He is counting on the Russian Prosecutor General's Office to do everything possible "to ensure that the criminals receive a fair punishment, as required by Russian law." On Monday (March 25), Putin confirmed that the attack on Crocus City Hall was carried out by Islamist terrorists. At the same time, he made it clear that he sees a Ukrainian trace. Russia wants to know “who the client is.”
Putin therefore assumes that Islamists carried out the order for the mass murder, but that the masterminds are located elsewhere. He sees a motive in Ukraine, not IS.
(frs with dpa)