Zelensky refutes Moscow's accusations over Crocus Hall attack

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed, for the first time on Saturday evening, the terrorist attack at the Crocus concert hall near Moscow. "Clearly, regarding what happened yesterday, Putin and others are simply trying to shift the blame," stated the President of Ukraine.

For hours, Russian propaganda has attempted to pin the attack on Kyiv, alleging that the attackers had plans to escape to Ukraine. Zelensky responded to these accusations on Saturday evening.

"Clearly, for what occurred yesterday, Putin and other villains are merely trying to find a scapegoat. Their tactics are always the same. This is not new; there have been bombings, executions, and explosions before. And they consistently blame others. They invade Ukraine, devastate our cities, and then try to point the finger at Ukraine," Zelensky remarked in his evening address.

In recent weeks, the US administration alerted Russian officials about a possible attack in Russia. "The US shared intelligence about a potential attack in Moscow in March," said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, on Friday. The intelligence hinted at potential attacks during concerts.

"The theories concocted by the Russian intelligence services, suggesting Ukraine's involvement in the attack in Russia, are completely baseless and ludicrous," stated Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian president's office. The FSB had previously claimed that the terrorists fleeing were headed towards Ukraine and "had contacts on the Ukrainian side."

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs staunchly denies claims made by Russian officials linking Ukraine to the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. "We view such claims as a deliberate provocation orchestrated by the Kremlin," the Ministry said in a statement released late Friday night.