The Kremlin “likely aims to seize” on the fears and anger of Russian citizens after the Moscow hall shooting to further cast Ukraine as “terrorists” and the West the “sponsor” of terrorism.

That’s the analysis of the US-based Institute for the Study of War, in its latest analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Russian officials are tying the US and the West to a broader set of ‘terrorist’ attacks against Russia following the Crocus City Hall attack, likely to intensify rhetoric about alleged Western and Ukrainian threats to generate greater domestic support for the war in Ukraine,” according to the thinktank.

It says the authorities are also increasing legal pressure on migrants in Russia, after recent proposals for harsher measures against migrant communities in response to the Crocus City Hall attack.

At least 143 people are known to have died in the attack earlier this month, according to Russian officials.

NATO ‘preparing allies for conflict with Moscow’ with plans to expand Romanian airbase

We reported earlier on Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that the idea of Russia attacking a NATO country was “drivel”.

Now the Russian defence ministry has claimed NATO activity in eastern Europe and the Black Sea is aimed at preparing its allies for conflict with Moscow, according to the state-owned RIA news agency.

The comment was made in relation to Romania’s plans to expand a military airbase in Constanta. 

Russian officials have sought to paint NATO as the more likely aggressor – a line the Kremlin has used in the past to justify its invasion of Ukraine.