Ukraine Invasion: Part 48

[MagicFox]

That last one went quickly! Welcome to thread 48. Thanks as usual to all for the information, guidance and solidarity.

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@Igotjelly you are right, it makes no sense at all.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Putin’s grubby hands are in this, he has got form after all.

I just don’t think it’s the same. He was going to mobilise anyway, what would be the need for this? I would also have expected them to be jumping up and down blaming Ukraine already.

They already have

Where? Apologies if I’ve missed it.

Zelensky’s administration have said it has nothing to do with Ukraine.

Sorry my partner is pissed off with my Ukraine obsession and I'm messaging surreptitiously from the sofa. Medvedev has tweeted accusing Ukr immediately. I don't think it's Ukraine and neither does the US

Meh he’s just a nutter 😂 Sky and BBC News just suggested it was telling that the Kremlin hadn’t immediately blamed Ukraine, suggesting they are dealing with a genuine crisis and not in a position for propaganda currently which I thought was interesting (on the actual live stream on the TV so can’t link sorry).

If it makes you feel better I think my DH is starting to worry I might leave him to go fight in Ukraine 😂 he said as much today!

Medvedev is such a snivelling little shit. I think my husband largely tunes out my Ukraine commentary by throwing me the odd grunt of acknowledgement.

Russia were so scared of admitting Ukrainian reach over the border, that they claimed to have actually shot down their own military aircraft (I think, twice), rather than say Ukraine downed them.

I think that might militate against Putin trying to pin the terror attack on Ukraine.

On the other hand, it's on an obviously civilian target. So maybe the info-bots will, as ever segment their message. One story for Russians; a completely different one for the other BRICS countries, blaming nasty Ukraine.

Ha sounds v familiar @Igotjelly 😂 I think our dynamic is I post the worst Twitter scenarios and you kindly diffuse them. I'm still incognito as we speak

@sentdefender

ISIS has now claimed Responsibility for the Terrorist Attack tonight on the Crocus Concert Hall in the Russian Capital of Moscow, with them stating that the Attack was specifically attempting to Target a Gathering of Christians.

Fuck Isis! Evil bastards!

Yes. Evil.

Looks like the US are pretty certain it was Islamic State and have disclosed that they’ve seen a steady stream of credible evidence since as far back as Nov that IS we’re planning an attack in Moscow. They’ve also said they passed all info onto Russia, including highly specific material under the duty to warn.

Very embarrassing for Putin.

ISIS has now claimed Responsibility for the Terrorist Attack tonight on the Crocus Concert Hall in the Russian Capital of Moscow, with them stating that the Attack was specifically attempting to Target a Gathering of Christians.

Is this claim by ISIS feasible?

On the side of this being a Russian attack on Russians -

Why would ISIS attack Russia now? I can't see the reason - they surely have other, better targets and if anything, you'd think the US would be the target of any ISIS action specially in the light of US support of Israel.
Russia has previously attacked its own people planting bombs in civilians areas - the FSB blew up some flats claiming it was Chechen terrorists to justify the second invasion.

On the side of it being genuine, the US seems to think it was.

Genuine or not, Putin's tried to keep Chechnya on side with Chechnya being Muslim, but he's also been pushing the Christian faith heavily (FSB-controlled Russian orthodox Church). This is going to play into Putin's hands cracking down still further on Russian society.

Yes I think Isis are the not likely culprits. It follows their modus operandi and they’ve targeted Moscow before. Don’t forget Russia remains heavily involved in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.

And Africa, where IS and Boko Haram still operate.

True!

I'm listening to 'Weekend' on the World Service and Sergei Markov is being interviewed and claiming that the ISIS claim is false and that Ukraine are responsible. So I fear that's going to be the official line and they will use this to justify further attacks. What a grim morning.

It does play into putin's hands unfortunately

Absolutely plays straight into Putin’s hands and to be honest he can’t be allowed to be blamed for such a mass attack in the heart of Russia. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t ISIS though and that instability will this exist regardless, playing into Putin’s thinking and creating a problem for them. Lies don’t change that.

I’m also not sure that Putin will “admit” to the Ukrainians having so fiendishly overcome Russian security. This isn’t a stray bomb into a refinery, this gets the the heart of the seat of power in Russia.

Speaking as if it was Ukraine, or that was the narrative. It would mean Putin admitting to overwhelming failure.

The RU authorities are claiming to have detained suspects and they seem to be from Tajikistan.

@peter__leonard

After about 12 hours, Russian security services finally have their narrative on Crocus City, and it is as inflammatory as could have been expected. Militants were purpotedly in contact with Ukraine and intended to take refuge there, they say