Ilya Ponomaryov, the only Russian deputy who voted against the annexation of Crimea, now in exile, and one of the leaders of the Russian rebel movement, says on Telegram that the armed attack in Moscow was orchestrated by the Kremlin.

Former Russian deputy Ilya PonomaryovPhoto: Oleksiy Chumachenko/SOPA Images / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

“What competent authorities around the world have repeatedly warned about in the last two weeks has happened. The story of 1999 with blown-up houses is repeating itself. Moscow is on fire. Dozens were killed, hundreds of civilians were injured. Security forces and fear on the streets of Russian cities,” he writes.

Ponomaryov claims that the “Freedom of Russia” legion is not involved and says that “Putin’s first term and his fifth term start the same way. But this will be the last time.”

“Then the main enemies of the Kremlin were the Chechens. Today it is Russian volunteers and Ukrainian authorities. But we are sure: both the then Chechen fighters and the current fighters of the Legion for the Freedom of Russia have nothing to do with this crime. But people with epaulettes of the Russian special services do,” says the Russian dissident.

“Terrorism has no justification. State terrorism is even more so. State terrorism against its own citizens is particularly disgusting,” he concludes.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the President of Ukraine, claims in his Telegram post that “Ukraine is not involved in the Crocus terrorist attack, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries.”

This is not the only reaction of Kyiv. A spokesman for the GBU told “Ukrainian Pravda” that “the events in Moscow are a deliberate provocation by the Russian special services.”

The White House also stated that there are currently no signs of Ukraine’s involvement in the attack.

“There is currently no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the attack,” said John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council strategic communications coordinator.

On the same topic:

  • Ukraine declares that it is not involved in the terrorist attack in Moscow
  • EXCLUSIVE The leader of the Russian rebel movement speaks from exile about “the biggest coup in Russia in the last 100 years.” Ilya Ponomaryov: “The final point will be made in Moscow”