Zelensky blames Putin amid deadly attack near Moscow, tensions rise

After a day of silence, contemplating how to relate the incident to Ukraine, Ukrainian President assessed Putin's remarks. The Kremlin swiftly retorted. "Zelensky is the only head of state who dared to accuse Russia of the terrorist act because he knows the truth all too well," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated.

It's important to note that many Russian media and government statements serve as propaganda, playing a role in the information warfare spearheaded by the Russian Federation.

The latest reports indicate that 133 people perished in a terrorist attack near Moscow. On Friday, attackers targeted the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, opening fire on attendees and causing explosions. The subsequent fire led to the building's roof collapsing.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Photos released by Russian media of two out of the four apprehended Krasnogorsk attackers bore a striking resemblance to an image shared by the Islamic State on Telegram.

However, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed on Saturday that the four suspects attempted to evade capture by heading towards Ukraine, where, he suggested, arrangements were made for them to cross the border from the Ukrainian side.

Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Putin's assertion on Saturday evening. "The truth about yesterday's events in Moscow is clear, Putin and his cronies are trying to deflect blame onto others, a tactic they've consistently employed. They've orchestrated bombings, shootings, and explosions before, always pointing fingers elsewhere," he stated on the X platform.

"They invaded Ukraine, devastated our cities, and then blamed Ukraine. They commit atrocities, including torture and rape, and yet accuse their victims. They've dispatched hundreds of thousands of terrorists to Ukrainian soil to fight us, indifferent to the turmoil within their own borders. All these events unfolded yesterday, and Putin, instead of addressing his people, remained silent for a day, pondering how to pin this on Ukraine. The pattern is all too familiar," Zelensky continued.

Zelensky's comments were swiftly addressed by the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman.

"Zelensky stands alone in having the audacity to fault Russia for the terrorist attack, a clear case of 'the pot calling the kettle black,'" Maria Zakharova remarked on Telegram. "No condemnation can match the self-inflicted discredit of his own words," she added.

Zakharova, representing Sergey Lavrov's department, also urged remembering these words "out of respect for the victims and those battling on the front lines."