Title: Putin’s Security Apparatus Fails to Prevent Russia’s Deadliest Terrorist Attack in 20 Years
Less than a week after securing his fifth term with a record share of the vote, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia faced a devastating blow to his image of national security prowess. A terrorist attack at a concert hall in suburban Moscow claimed the lives of at least 133 people, marking Russia’s deadliest attack in two decades.
The attack, believed to be carried out by a branch of the Islamic State, caught Mr. Putin off guard, taking him over 19 hours to address the nation. Instead of acknowledging the evidence pointing towards the Islamic State, he hinted at Ukraine’s involvement, drawing parallels to Nazis and conflating the fight against terrorism with his invasion of Ukraine.
Critics have pointed out Mr. Putin’s detachment from true security concerns, citing his focus on pursuing dissidents and journalists rather than keeping society safe from violent terrorists. The recent addition of the L.G.B.T. movement to the list of “terrorists and extremists” further highlights this trend.
Despite the Islamic State claiming responsibility for the attack and Ukraine denying involvement, the Kremlin’s efforts to shift blame and discredit reports have raised skepticism among the Russian public. The push to unite behind Mr. Putin’s war against Ukraine has been met with skepticism, especially as U.S. officials have found no evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the attack.
While Mr. Putin’s dominance over Russian politics was reaffirmed by the election’s predetermined outcome, the failure to prevent the deadly attack has raised questions about his commitment to national security. The political consequences of the concert hall attack remain to be seen, but as one political scientist noted, Russian society has grown accustomed to keeping quiet about inconvenient topics.
As Russia grapples with the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack in 20 years, the nation faces a critical moment in evaluating its leadership and security apparatus.
