Two weeks have passed since the horrific terrorist attack in Crocus City. Despite Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine and daily attacks on civilian infrastructure, such single-shot killings of civilians, even in the world’s largest dictatorships, evoke empathy among citizens around the world.
It happened this time, too. However, if in other cases the civilized world categorically condemns and demands punishment (and gives a certain indulgence for a violent response), in the case of Russia, the “designated killers” did not inspire either trust or support for revenge.
However, it is obvious that the Russian authorities, having information about the preparation of a terrorist attack from various sources and probably deliberately withdrawing themselves from countering the threat, were counting on a completely different outcome. We analyzed this terrorist attack in detail in the article “A step away from turning on ourselves, or why the FSB is the customer of a horrific terrorist attack in Russia” . Today, after the fact, we have to note the following.
- Russia deliberately manipulated Ukraine’s involvement in the attack. At the same time, even the closest ally, self-styled President of Belarus Lukashenko, has twice denied the version with a “Ukrainian trace,” claiming that the perpetrators were moving toward the border with Belarus.
- No other evidence was provided, except for the place of detention of the perpetrators. Attempts to bind Ukraine through payment channels, again, have actually led to themselves. For example, Kurchenko’s “Yanukovych’s wallet”.
The most important outcome was that the threat of escalation, which frightened Ukrainians and the world as a “response to the terrorist attack,” turned out to be an expected bluff. And a justification for the intensification of strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, which began BEFORE the terrorist attack in Russia. This means that this excuse was nothing more than an attempt to exploit the situation.
InfoLight.UA sources confirm that the attack was indeed planned and carried out by Islamist radical terrorists. That the Russian special services knew about its preparation and deliberately allowed it to happen.
For our part, we would like to emphasize that the escalation of events at the frontline is happening regardless of this terrorist attack. And other similar events. Ukraine and Ukrainians should calmly accept threats from Russia and join the Ukrainian Defense Forces to repel aggression and defeat the occupiers. There is no other way to prevent escalation.
The material was created as part of our monthly detailed analysis of Russian disinformation efforts, “Top Disinformation of the Month. Analysis and refutation”.
