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Security Council Secretary Patrushev: “Of course Ukraine”

Photo: Vladimir Astapkovich / Sputnik / IMAGO

According to its own statement, an offshoot of the terrorist militia “Islamic State” was responsible for the attack on Crocus City Hall that left dozens dead and injured. However, senior Russian officials continue to spread their unsubstantiated version that Ukraine was behind the violent act.

Now the secretary of Russia's National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, has again made allegations against Kiev. When asked by journalists whether the terrorist militia "Islamic State" or Ukraine was behind the attack, Patrushev replied, according to the state agency Tass: "Of course Ukraine." The 72-year-old repeatedly explained how he came to this assessment as an ardent supporter of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Western security authorities and experts consider the letter of responsibility distributed by the IS offshoot “Khorasan Province” (IS-K) just a few hours after the attack to be credible. Although Russia's security authorities have now arrested several suspected Islamist suspects, Russian representatives continue to spread the word that Ukraine could be involved.

Ukrainian presidential adviser speaks of lies

Kyiv strictly rejects this. In response to the new accusations from the Russian Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's close advisor, Mykhailo Podoljak, said on and also a member of the Security Council.

Russian President Vladimir 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, Putin confirmed that the attack on Crocus City Hall was carried out by Islamist terrorists.

At the same time, as he did at the weekend, he made it clear that he sees a Ukrainian trail. 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.

fek/dpa/Reuters