Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge on Saturday for the Islamic terrorist attack that unfolded in Moscow on Friday night, leaving hundreds of people dead or injured.
Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K, claimed credit for the terrorist attack that left at least 133 dead and wounded more than 140 people who were either shot, burned, or inhaled thick black smoke.
Putin said all four terrorists who carried out the were arrested by Russia authorities, and he appeared to try to lay the groundwork to blame Ukraine for the attack.
BREAKING:
Putin delivers speech to the nation, accusing Ukraine aiding the terrorists.
Putin says Russia has information indicating that Ukraine had been preparing a part of the border, a so-called “window” through which the terrorists could leave Russia and enter Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/xwP5wx1onx
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 23, 2024
“They tried to escape, they were moving towards the border with Ukraine,” Putin claimed, according to a translation of his speech by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “And we have data that suggests that they were about to be moved towards the territory of Ukraine by those in Ukraine.”
Putin did not directly blame Ukraine for the attack, and he did not mention the fact that the U.S. issued a public warning two weeks ago that terrorists were planning on targeting large crowds of people, specifically concerts, in Moscow. The U.S. also reportedly reached out to Russian officials and warned them directly about the ISIS-K plot.
Pro-Russia conspiracy theorists have claimed that the warning from the U.S. was proof that the U.S. was involved in planning the attacks, even though the U.S. has a history of alerting foreign governments — including adversaries — of potential terrorist attacks.
Putin said that the entire Russian government was focused on finding everyone who assisted the terrorists, including those who provided transportation, gave them weapons, etc.
He compared the terrorists to Nazis who murdered Russians in World War II and said that everyone who is found responsible “will pay.”
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“We will identify everyone who stands behind these terrorists and they will pay,” he said. “These terrorists … there is only one future for them — retribution and oblivion.”
Putin called on the international community to stand with Russia in helping it combat international Islamic terrorism.