DISINFO: The attack on Crocus City Hall was prepared by the Ukrainian secret services using Tajiki terrorists
SUMMARY
Support for terrorist acts, even by third-party groups, is a form of hybrid warfare. Terrorism can be of the direct kind, such as attacks on strategic infrastructures by a few infiltrated commandos, and then there is the possibility of supporting, manipulating and arming existing groups that hate the adversary, but would never have the resources for large-scale attacks.
This is what happened in Moscow with the attack on Crocus City Hall on 24 March 2024, whose direct perpetrators are from Tajikistan, but whose preparation refers to the Ukrainian secret services.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative depicting Ukraine as a terrorist regime. The claim was made in connection with the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Moscow, trying to link Ukraine to the terrorist attacks in Russia without presenting any evidence.
There is no evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack. Kyiv strongly denied any involvement in the assault on the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk, and the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for and shared video footage from the attacks, corroborating their claims of responsibility.
It also emerged that Iran had warned Moscow a few days before of an imminent attack by ISIS based on information obtained from arrested ISIS terrorists in Iran.
U.S officials have intelligence that the Islamic State group's Afghan affiliate, IS-Khorasan, was responsible for the Moscow attack. “ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
For background, read our analysis: The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings.
Even Putin himself acknowledged late on 25 March that Islamists were committing the attack.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Moscow has evidence of the connection between the Crocus City terrorists and Ukraine, that Kyiv is behind the attack at the Crocus in Moscow, and that Ukraine, not ISIS masterminded the Crocus attack.