In a stark accusation that intensifies the narrative of internal repression within Russia, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (DIU) has claimed that the recent terrorist attack in the Moscow Oblast, which saw masked gunmen open fire at a concert, is a “deliberate provocation by Putin’s regime.” The shooting incident, which led to an unspecified number of casualties and the partial collapse of the venue’s roof, has sent shockwaves through the international community, which had previously been warned of potential terrorist activities in Moscow.
Andrii Yusov, a DIU representative, commented, “This is the deliberate provocation by Putin’s special services that the international community warned us about. The Kremlin tyrant started his career like this, and he wants to end it the same way: committing crimes against his citizens.”
This bold statement from Ukraine’s defence intelligence service comes amid a history of Kremlin critics facing dire consequences, including the recent death of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, who had been serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges labeled as “extremism” by right organizations. The pattern of silencing dissent has been observed since the early days of Putin’s rule, with other critics meeting similar fates or being forced into exile.
The DIU’s assertion aligns with sentiments expressed by famous author Boris Akunin, who has stated, “Most likely, to drown out voices of protest, [Putin] will launch a campaign of terror in the country.” This comment came following the death of Navalny, whom Akunin believed would become a more significant threat in death to Putin’s regime.
The backdrop to these allegations includes a history of controversial actions attributed to Putin’s government, such as the death of former Russian FSB spy and critic, Alexander Litvinenko, who died from polonium-210 poisoning after accusing Putin of orchestrating Moscow apartment bombings to justify the Chechen War. There has also been an unprecedented crackdown on opposition in Russia following its military actions in Ukraine.
While Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack in the Moscow Oblast, the Kremlin has a history of framing such events to suppress internal criticism, according to defense and intelligence analysts. The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) reports increased drone activity and border tensions in the region, suggesting an atmosphere rife for such incidents. However, Ukrainian officials have consistently denied involvement in attacks on Russian territory.
Masked attackers fired shots before a Piknik band concert at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast. Russian officials say a unspecified number of casualties occurred. The sold-out concert had around 2,000 attendees. An explosion led to a fire and the roof is now collapsing.