The CIA admitted it had bases in Ukraine, training for incursions and unconventional warfare.
The ISIS angle is not credible eg they made a video, with faces blurred, holding up the wrong hand when making their vow to allah. They have the perpetrators, their phone records, handlers in Turkey and communications with Ukrainian's to cross the border in a safe area. Then you have the US embassy warning that specifically mentioned "Concert Hall" as possible target and the confident "Wasn't Ukraine" within an hour by the US state dept. Add to this all the Victoria Nuland BS history of US interference in Ukraine and what would you think? If Russia I would think even if not directly involved, the US helped train Ukranian in incursion raids like this, the whole Ukraine war is over US tactical agendas in expanding NATO thus weakening Russia so if it wasn't for US bullshit meddling, none of this would have happened. Why any NATO troops will be priority targets. NATO countries have been playing this game to hurt Russia through Ukraine. Ukraine got hurt instead. Thanks NATO.
Does America understand Putin is not a dictator? He has a Kremlin to deal with? That he is the moderate one compared to others? Measured. I'm very glad he's not prone to over reacting like certain genocidal countries. He addressed Russians today calling for constraint, calming things. Unlike genocide Joe would.
Biden's admin is the problem. A grifter president too weak and gutless to put his own country before Israel's interests. Ukraine was all about NATO expansion, admitted by the Europeans, to ensure US homogony. The whole Neocon wet dream is waking up dry, older than Biden.

It was never about the Ukranian people. Never.
If there is war over Ukraine, US and NATO will lose. This is pure logistics; personnel, equipment and supply lines to keep them going. Ammo. If this happens, I really hope Russia hold a Nuremburg type trial afterwards for all those who denied Ukraine peace. Hopefully, they can right a few other wrongs like Covid and Gaza eg all those who enabled these crimes against humanity get the chance to explain why and defend themselves in a world court.
Could have been peace for Ukraine 2 years ago. Except NATO could not accept Ukraine neutrality because of Nuland's et al sick game.

@puff Sorry but in this case you just have to ask yourself the simple question. Cui bono. Who gains.
The big profiter in this is only Putin, nobody else has anything to gain from this, the idea that it may undermine Putin's credibility with the Russians is just silly, any tactical thinker can see that it was only ever Putin who would win.

Most likely, it was simply a mad incident engineered by some crackpot ISIS members, with no realistic intent, or if you must have a conspiracy, then the only credible person with anything to gain is Putin. Putin may not be a dictator , and may have the Kremlin to deal with, but if he intended to become one, then this would be a perfect move to help side-line the Kremlin.

Of course there would be evidence such as giving the wrong hand signal, if Putin had concocted the evidence, is it really credible that anyone would make a mistake that bad by accident ?

@Fernapple It doesn't matter what we think, Russians will hunt down those responsible. They have already marked the Ukranian military intelligence head.
Cui Bono indeed. Who gains? After just winning another 6 years with a 77% turnout, Putin didn't need an event to give him a mandate, he already had it.
The US have long had policy of destabilising Russian elections. An incursion occurred during elections, armed with US kit for example. Now if the cell had hit a week earlier, during the election, who Cui bono then?
It is the US claiming ISIS, discounting Ukraine. Why so sure? Does anyone in Washington know what diplomacy is?
Russia has won in Ukraine, that won't change. Just won't be anymore mucking around by Russia. Apparently end of April ground firm, so I predict Russia will bomb until then then finish things quickly.

@puff Either Putin has a major unbreakable mandate, or he still has to worry about the Kremlin. Come on, you can not have it both ways.

Also, though the CIA, for one group, admittedly have a reputation for incompetence, but to give someone who they see as an enemy, and would be dictator, everything he could possibly ask for, on a plate. Even down to obviously badly faked videos and clumsy hand gestures, that would have to be the greatest act of political and military incompetence since the Trojans bought the Greek horse. It just is not credible, the first act of sowing false information, is to be slight, you have to make your opponent work hard to dig out the errors. The only people who are likely to be fooled by that, are totally brain washed Putin devotees, and the only person with and interest confirming and reinforcing what they believe, is Putin himself. The clunky nature of the evidence, is a clear sign of who it is intended for, and by whom.

Putin has made some announcements/ updates. The thing about Putin, he is a patient man but that has run out I think. The thing about Putin, he's not one to play politics nor is he one to bluff. That means you can take what he says as no bullshit. The same cannot be said for Western politicians involved with Ukraine atm.
As I said, time to take out this threat (that is Zelenskyy's government/ NATO interfering in Ukraine) once and for all, that will be Russia's attitude from now on.
In conflict, you hold back on your best unless desperate. We haven't really seen Russia's air force yet. They are taking out Ukranian airfields and air defense so I suspect we will see them soon.
If "The adults" are now in charge in the US/ UK, ffs bring back the kids.