The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on March 7, warning of potential attacks on large gatherings, including concerts, in the city. The alert stated that extremists may have imminent plans to target such events, with a specific mention of concerts. Americans were cautioned that an attack could occur within the next 48 hours.
While the warning was related to an attack that occurred on Friday, it was clarified by American officials that it was not linked to possible Ukrainian sabotage. The State Department emphasized that the term “extremists” was not used to indicate actions originating from Kyiv.
Pro-Kremlin voices were quick to use the U.S. Embassy’s warning to portray America as attempting to intimidate Russians. Concerns were raised by U.S. officials that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin might try to falsely blame Ukraine for the attack, using it to undermine support for Ukraine both domestically and internationally. Putin has a history of manipulating events to fit his narrative and has previously accused Ukraine of terrorism to justify his actions.
Following the attack, Putin labeled the U.S. Embassy’s statement as “obvious blackmail” aimed at destabilizing Russian society. However, he had not directly commented on the attack itself. The White House stated that there was no indication of Ukrainian involvement in the incident and urged against jumping to conclusions.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman called for Washington to share any information it had regarding the attack, while a top adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office emphasized that Ukraine had no connection to the incident.
As the situation unfolds, tensions remain high and questions linger about the motives behind the attack and the potential fallout. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
