Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged that Ukraine tried to help in the escape of the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on the Moscow concert center that has killed at least 133 people.
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for Friday night's attack on Crocus City Hall, a large music venue, in which armed men entered and opened fire on concertgoers. The United States said the IS claim was credible.
Putin said on Saturday that all the suspects had been apprehended on their way to Ukraine where "early reports indicate that a window had been prepared to cross the international border," although the Russian leader did not blame Kyiv directly.
Newsweek has not yet been able to verify Putin's claims and Ukraine has firmly denied it had anything to do with the attacks. Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian foreign ministry for comment.
In his comments more than 19 hours after the attack, the Russian leader said that the four direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack have been arrested and a total of 11 people had been detained.
"It is already obvious that we are faced with more than just a cynical, planned terrorist attack," he said. "All the perpetrators, organizers and customers of this crime will be punished. Whoever they are, whoever directs them. I repeat, we will establish and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this blow for Russia, for our people."
He added that "terrorists, murderers...who do not and cannot have a nationality will face one unenviable fate, retribution and oblivion."
Putin, meanwhile, made no mention of IS in his address in which he declared Sunday a national day of mourning.
However, comments from Kremlin propagandists have prompted social media users to speculate that Putin was planning to blame the attacks on Ukraine.
"Certainly looks like the Kremlin will blame Kyiv, presumably paving the way for more mobilization," Kevin Rothrock from independent Russian media outlet Meduza posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.
"Russia's persistent attempts to implicate Ukraine in the attack began with military bloggers and propagandists and have now come full circle," security expert Maria Avdeeva wrote on X, who added, "typical Russian disinformation at play."
Putin's comments coincided with a statement by Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova who said Kyiv's "regime has been carrying out active and systematic terrorist activities against Russian citizens."
Unverified videos shared on social media purported to show two men who had been arrested over the attack, although neither mentioned any connection with Ukraine.
Update 03/23/24, 10:11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
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Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ... Read more
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