“We have every reason to believe that the main goal of those who ordered the bloody, awful terrorist act in Moscow was to damage our unity,” Putin said in televised comments.
“There are no other goals visible, there are none, because Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. We are a country that demonstrates a unique example of interfaith harmony and unity, of inter-religious and inter-ethnic unity.”
Russia has repeatedly said the attack was ordered by Ukraine, while not providing evidence to back that assertion. Ukraine has denied involvement and the United States – which warned Russia beforehand of an impending attack by Islamist militants – has said Moscow’s version is nonsense.
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![TOPSHOT - Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade Kholodny Yar monitor the sky from their positions in the direction of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 20, 2024. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)](https://www.usnews.com/object/image/0000018d-cd8c-d59b-ad8d-eddecde50001/feb21-ukraine-01.jpg?update-time=1708550742040&size=responsive640)
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