Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the nation in the wake of the terrorist act at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, condemning the incident as a "bloody and barbaric event" that claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people.
He promised that all those involved in the terrorist attack would face just punishment.
"All perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of this crime will face just and inevitable punishment. Whoever they are, whoever directs them. Let me repeat, we will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this villainy. This is an attack on Russia, on our people," Putin stated according to Russian media.
Putin Hints at Ukraine Involvement
Putin likened the terrorists from Crocus City Hall to Nazis, describing how the criminals methodically proceeded to kill, shooting people at close range — actions reminiscent of the Nazis' atrocities in occupied territories.
"The terrorists who orchestrated the shooting at Crocus City Hall were headed towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a 'window' for crossing the state border was prepared for them," Putin disclosed, suggesting preparations in Ukraine for the terrorists' escape.
According to the Public Relations Center of the FSB, the terrorists meticulously planned the attack at Crocus City Hall, storing weapons in a cache beforehand. After the act, the criminals intended to cross the Russia-Ukraine border, having contacts on the Ukrainian side.
Reports from the Telegram channel Shot indicate that the suspected terrorists had a designated area where they could hide from law enforcement and meet with accomplices. However, they were unable to reach the Ukrainian border, as they were stopped by officers of the FSB Border Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Bryansk region.
Margarita Simonyan, chief editor of the media group "Russia Today" and the RT television channel, reported that the terrorists did not make it 100 kilometers to the Ukrainian border.
Putin has declared Sunday, March 24, a national day of mourning, expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims. "The entire country, our whole people, mourns together with those who have lost their loved ones," the president said.
He noted that additional anti-terrorist and counter-sabotage measures have been implemented across all regions of the country.
"The main task now is to prevent those behind this bloody massacre from committing a new crime," the re-elected president emphasized.
