Ukraine was not involved in Friday's shooting attack near Moscow and suggestions of a Ukrainian link “have nothing in common with reality,” a spokesman for Kyiv’s military spy agency has said.
Russia’s FSB security service said “all four terrorists” behind the attack at a concert hall near the capital had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine.
“This is, of course, another lie from the Russian special services, which has nothing in common with reality and does not stand up against any criticism,” Andriy Yusov, of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, said.
He added: “Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory, and is fighting with the occupiers’ army and military targets, not civilians.”
His remarks echoed those of presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, who denied any Ukrainian link in comments on Friday evening and again on Saturday. Podolyak wrote on X on Saturday that “any attempts to connect Ukraine to the terrorist attack are absolutely untenable.”
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
The shooting took place on Friday evening at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue just west of Moscow where a Soviet-era rock band was due to perform.
“This is, of course, another lie from the Russian special services, which has nothing in common with reality and does not stand up against any criticism,” Andriy Yusov, of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, said.
He added: “Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory, and is fighting with the occupiers’ army and military targets, not civilians.”
His remarks echoed those of presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, who denied any Ukrainian link in comments on Friday evening and again on Saturday. Podolyak wrote on X on Saturday that “any attempts to connect Ukraine to the terrorist attack are absolutely untenable.”
At least 143 people were killed in an attack on Friday near Moscow, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Saturday, citing preliminary data, and warned that the number of victims was expected to rise further.We expected Russian officials' version of the "Ukrainian trace" in the terrorist attack in #CrocusCityHall. Primitivism and predictability are ideal characteristics of the Russian security services. Once again, the #FSB confirms this... But it is still necessary to emphasize the…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 23, 2024
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Russia since the Beslan school siege in 2004.
The shooting took place on Friday evening at Crocus City Hall, a concert venue just west of Moscow where a Soviet-era rock band was due to perform.
Source: Reuters
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