Russia knew of terror attack plans 5 weeks before — why was it allowed to happen? — Ukrainian intel
Russia knew that the terrorist attack on Russian territory was being prepared as early as February 15 and there are several options why the Kremlin allowed it to happen, Kyrylo Budanov, Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) chief said, the Ukrainian intelligence’s press service reported.
"Russia knew about the preparations at least on February 15, 2024,” said Budanov.
“I will tell you more, this information passed through the Syrian group intelligence, after that it became known in Moscow. Let them not dream up that it all materialized in a strange way out of nowhere."
Russia knew where the combat groups would come from and through which two countries they were moving, Budanov said.
"Why did they allow this to happen — there are several reasons,” he said.
“The first is — their sacred tradition — a power struggle aimed to remove several officials. The second reason can be that they actually underestimated the magnitude of what would happen. They thought it would be more local, and wanted to blame Ukraine for everything."
Read also: Crocus City Hall suspect tortured with electric shocks – Photo 18+
The Kremlin has already changed their version of what happened in the Crocus City Hall shopping center near Moscow three times, attempting to link a so-called "Ukrainian trace" to the attack, Budanov noted.
He called Russian propaganda versions nonsense and emphasized that he does not actually approve any terrorist acts against the civilian population.
Russia itself wreaks havoc and arrogantly believed that they could control it, he said.
Shooting in Russian Crocus City Hall: What is Known?
Several terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons on attendees at a concert hall at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow suburb of Krasnogorsk, where the band Piknik was set to perform.
Russian authorities claim 139 people were killed.
Read also: Why Russia is trying to blame Ukraine for Crocus City Hall attack: expert opinion
Russia claimed it detained those involved in the shooting and that the FSB had found a "Ukrainian trace" in the incident, alleging that the suspects were heading to cross the border into Ukraine, where they supposedly had contacts.
This narrative has been pushed by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russian propaganda.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and Presidential Office have categorically denied Russian officials' accusations of Ukraine's involvement in the Crocus City Hall shooting.
ISIS claimed responsibility on March 23, releasing photos of the suspects detained by the Russian FSB earlier. ISIS later released a video shot by the terrorists in Crocus City Hall.
There is zero evidence tying Ukraine to the attack in Crocus City Hall near Moscow, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on March 25.
Russian dictator Putin's entourage did not believe that Ukraine was involved in the shooting, Bloomberg agency, citing sources, reported on March 26.
Kremlin officials have no confirmation of Ukraine's involvement, but Putin continues to blame Ukraine.
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