On August 31, 2021, a bomb exploded in the apartment building of Russian novelist Dmitry Glukhovsky in Moscow, injuring him and two others. The Russian government has since claimed that the bomber responsible for the attack was acting on behalf of Ukraine, a claim that has been met with skepticism and criticism from many in the international community.
The Russian government has pointed to a number of factors as evidence of Ukrainian involvement in the attack. They claim that the bomber used a Ukrainian-made explosive device, and that the attack was carried out in retaliation for Glukhovsky’s support of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Additionally, Russian officials have accused Ukraine of supporting “terrorist activities” in Russia, and have suggested that the attack on Glukhovsky is part of a larger campaign of aggression against Russia.
However, many experts have questioned the validity of these claims. Some have pointed out that the use of a Ukrainian-made explosive device does not necessarily implicate the Ukrainian government in the attack, as such devices are widely available on the black market. Others have noted that Glukhovsky’s support for Russia’s annexation of Crimea was not particularly controversial at the time, and that it is unlikely that Ukraine would have waited seven years to carry out an attack in retaliation.
Furthermore, some have suggested that the Russian government may be using the attack on Glukhovsky as a pretext for further aggression against Ukraine. Russia has been involved in a long-standing conflict with Ukraine over the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, and some experts believe that the Russian government may be looking for an excuse to escalate the conflict.
Regardless of who was responsible for the attack on Glukhovsky, it is clear that tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. The two countries have been engaged in a bitter conflict for years, and there is little sign that the situation will improve anytime soon. The international community must continue to monitor the situation closely and work to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
