Russia aims to blame Ukraine's Security Service chief for terrorist attack near Moscow
Russia aims to blame Ukraine's Security Service chief for terrorist attack near Moscow (RBC-Ukraine collage)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin identifies Ukraine's Security Service chief, Vasyl Maliuk, as the primary target, meaning Russia intends to pin responsibility for the Islamist terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region on him, according to RBC-Ukraine informed source.
Ukrainian intelligence data indicate that Russians want to pin the Crocus shopping center attack on SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk and declare him the "main terrorist."
"The Kremlin also identifies him as target number one," stresses the source.
Putin cannot forgive the SSU for two strikes on the Crimean Bridge, especially the first one, which was timed to coincide with the Russian dictator's birthday, as well as the attacks by Sea Baby maritime drones on Russian ships.
Another sore point that the SSU has successfully hit across the aggressor country is oil refineries. The Security Service also effectively counteracts Russian espionage in Ukraine.
"So it is not excluded that among the detained Tajiks after the terrorist attack, they will 'accidentally' find 'Maliuk's business cards' as well," the source says.
In late March, the Basmanny Court in Moscow "remanded in custody" the SSU head, accusing him of "inciting terrorism."
Crimean Bridge
Ukrainian defense forces are striking the Crimean Bridge.
One such incident happened on October 8, 2022. Besides the explosion, there was a powerful fire. The second explosion on the bridge occurred in the summer of 2023.
After the first incident, Putin instructed to set up a government commission over the emergency on the Crimean Bridge and called what happened a "terrorist act." Almost immediately, it was announced in Russia that the explosion on the Crimean Bridge could have been a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine.
As Maliuk pointed out earlier this year, Ukraine was able to strike the Crimean Bridge twice - in October 2022 and in July 2023. Thanks to engineers and military personnel, Ukraine will continue to target the bridge's structures.
Moreover, Ukrainian intelligence constantly reminds that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate target for Ukraine's strikes. This thesis was reiterated in November last year by the representative of the Ukrainian military intelligence Andrii Yusov, who said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that the Crimean Bridge remained a legitimate military target for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
