Moscow attack: Putin links Ukraine, US dismisses the claim

Kathmandu, 26 March: Vladimir Putin, President of Russia has claimed that Ukraine could have been involved in the Crocus City Hall attack on Friday.

While speaking with law enforcement and regional officials on Monday evening, Putin argued the atrocity fit the pattern of actions by Kiev, according to Russian Media.

Putin said radical Islamist carried out the attack but claimed on Ukraine’s link stressing on interest to know ‘who ordered it’.

The US and its allies are now trying to cover for their proxies in Kiev, insisting that Ukraine had nothing to do with the terrorist attack and that the party responsible was Islamic State, said RT International quoting Putin “But we know who carried out the attack. We want to know who ordered it”. “Who was waiting for them there? It is clear that those who support the Kiev regime do not want to be accomplices and sponsors of terrorism. But a lot of questions remain,” he added.

Meanwhile, the United States dismissed the claim on Monday itself addressing the accusation, “There was no linkage to Ukraine … This is just more Kremlin propaganda,” reads the Guardian quoting White House spokesperson John Kirby.

“Baseless claims that Ukraine played a role in the assault on a concert hall should not distract from a failure to heed credible warnings”, reads the Guardian’s editorial. “Though all available evidence suggests this murderous rampage was the work of a branch of IS based principally in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan, the Kremlin is cynically choosing to exploit the carnage for propaganda purposes against Ukraine” it said “This shameless opportunism may be being deployed as a distraction technique, or as a prelude to a new expanded offensive in Ukraine.”

The deadly attack on Friday at a concert venue of The Crocus City Hall in Moscow which was the worst for nearly two decades has left as many as 139 people dead as of Monday and hundred others injured. At least four suspects who entered the concert hall shot civilians and then set the venue on fire, as stated.

IS had immediately claimed responsibility for the massacre, publishing a short statement. Four suspects detained in the aftermath were brought to court in Moscow on Sunday.