Moscow attack: Russian state media blames Ukraine and the West

Russian state media is squarely pointing fingers at Ukraine and Western powers for the deadly assault on the Crocus Hall, mirroring narratives propagated by the Kremlin while ignoring Ukraine’s denial of involvement.

However, more independent-minded commentators remain sceptical of such assertions, saying that the state security’s focus on the conflict in Ukraine may have led to oversight in preventing domestic attacks.

Russian TV presenters and popular pro-Kremlin bloggers have questioned whether the Islamic State group (IS) was behind the Moscow attack, calling this the “Western version” of events.

“There are already attempts to have everyone chasing down the wrong lead,” popular commentator and pro-Kremlin propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov said during his 24 March prime-time news review programme.

“IS has different hallmarks. Acts of terror in the name of IS are perpetrated by suicide attackers who do not try to flee afterwards,” he added, claiming:

“It is an indisputable fact that the terrorists sought salvation in Ukraine, which is where they headed after committing the crime.”

On Friday, gunmen stormed a Moscow concert hall, killing more than 130 people – the worst attack on Russia in years. It came just days after President Vladimir Putin began his fifth term of office. The Islamic State group (IS) has said four of its members carried out the attack.