Accuses US-Ukraine-England Of Being Behind Moscow's Attack, Russia's FSB Chief: We Think That's What Happened, This Is General Information

JAKARTA - Russia's president security agency director on Tuesday said he believed Ukraine, along with the United States and Britain, was involved in an attack on the Crocodile City Hall outside Moscow that killed at least 139 people.

ISIS, a militant group that has attempted to control large parts of Iraq and Syria, has claimed responsibility for the mass shooting.

"We believe the action was prepared by the radical Islamist group itself and facilitated by the West special agency," said Russian Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov on television.

"Ukraine's special service is in direct contact with this," Bortnikov continued, adding Kyiv had helped prepare radical Islamist groups in locations where their identities were unknown in the Middle East.

Ukraine, which has repeatedly denied any connection with Friday's attack, rejected Russia's accusations and called it a lie. Britain said it was "absolutely unreasonable".

When asked by Russian journalists whether Ukraine and its allies, the United States and Britain, were involved in the attack on the concert building, Bortnikov said: "We think that's the problem. After all, we are now talking about the texture we have. have. This is general information."

Bortnikov, 72, said Russia had not identified who specifically ordered Russia's deadliest attacks over the past two decades. But he said retaliatory measures would be taken.

He gave no specific evidence of the claims, which could be used by hardline groups in Moscow to justify an increase in the war in Ukraine, as well as to explain how Russia's security services failed to prevent the attack.

Separately, Russian news outlet SHOT published a video conversation in which a reporter asked the Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, whether it be "ISIS (Islamic State) or Ukraine? (the culprit)."

"Of course Ukraine," Patrushev replied. When asked about the statement, he said there were many' indications of Ukraine's involvement.

Meanwhile, senior aide to Ukrainian President Mykhailo Podolyak, rejected Russia's claim and called it a lie.

"The lie was officially distributed by Patrushev and after that by the head of the FSB Bortnikov," said Podolyak.

British Foreign Minister David Cameron posted on X: "Russian claims about the West and Ukraine over the Crocus City Hall attack are nonsense."

Patrushev and Bortnikov's remarks provide an overview of hawkish's thoughts among the Kremlin elite. The FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, is one of Russia's most powerful institutions.

The United States has intelligence information confirming ISIS claims as the party responsible for the deadly shooting at a concert near Moscow, two US officials said on Friday.

American National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson said earlier this month Washington had shared intelligence with Russia regarding plans for an attack on Moscow.

Bortnikov, when asked about the information provided by Washington, said the information was not always concrete.

Since President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin has considered the West, particularly the United States and Britain, as enemies whose decision to support Ukraine basically makes them the party at war with Russia.