Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a national day of mourning in honor of the 133 victims who lost their lives in the tragic mass shooting at Crocus City Hall, located outside Moscow. This incident marks the deadliest act of terrorism in Russia in the past two decades. In his address to the nation, Putin expressed solidarity with the grieving citizens and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. While the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian State Duma Defense Committee have pointed fingers at Ukraine, which is currently engaged in a conflict with Russia, and an ISIS faction has claimed responsibility, Putin refrained from directly accusing any party.
During his speech, Putin emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism, stating, “We are counting here on cooperation with all countries that genuinely share our pain and are ready, in their deeds, to truly unite our efforts in the fight against the common enemy of international terrorism.” However, he did mention that the four individuals detained in connection with the attack were attempting to flee to Ukraine, where it is believed they had assistance in crossing the border.
Outside the remnants of Crocus City Hall, hundreds of Russians gathered to pay their respects and create a memorial for the victims. The venue’s owning company has pledged to rebuild and restore everything damaged in the attack, with estimated damages exceeding $100 million, according to the New York Times. The Russian band Picnic, scheduled to perform at the concert hall on the night of the shooting, expressed their deep shock and mourning for the victims. They also revealed that one of their merchandise booth staff members is believed to be among those who lost their lives.
