Moscow tragedy: A horrific attack unfolded in the heart of Moscow on Saturday, leaving a trail of death and devastation at a local concert hall. Four armed assailants allegedly sprayed bullets into the crowded venue, resulting in the deaths of 133 individuals and grievous injuries to at least 107 others, according to Russian authorities.In the aftermath of the dastardly assault, the terrorist group ISIS swiftly claimed responsibility, while Ukrainian officials vehemently denied any involvement in the attack. We have been defending ourselves against Russian invasion and it have been fighting against the occupiers army, not civilians, stated Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov to Reuters.Russia Points Finger at UkraineHowever, Russian authorities have levelled accusations that the attackers received assistance from within Ukraines borders. Initial reports claimed 143 fatalities, but subsequent searches over 24 hours revealed 133 bodies within the concert hall premises.Putin Vows RetaliationIn a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that 11 individuals, including the four gunmen, had been detained. He alleged that the perpetrators attempted to flee towards Ukraine, where a purported escape route had been prepared.They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border, Putin said.Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) corroborated these claims, asserting that the gunmen had established contacts within Ukraine and were captured near the border.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy swiftly dismissed these allegations, characterizing them as typical deflection tactics employed by Putin and other thugs.Scenes of Carnage and ChaosHarrowing details emerged from the scene of the attack, where in addition to the gunfire, the assailants resorted to setting the concert hall ablaze with petrol, exacerbating the chaos and loss of life. The grim toll included 28 bodies found in a toilet and 14 on a staircase, while heart-wrenching scenes of mothers clutching their children were reported by Russian media outlets.As the investigation unfolds and the city mourns its fallen, the specter of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine looms large, casting a pall over an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
