The appalling attack on the vast Crocus City Hall concert venue and shopping complex near Moscow – claimed by ISIS – left more than 100 people dead.
This is hardly the stability and security for which so many Russians voted for Putin.
For years, the Kremlin strongman has been cast as a leader able to guarantee order in this vast, turbulent country.
But now, the focus is firmly on the apparent reappearance in Russia of jihadists, unrelated to the Ukraine war or domestic opposition to the Kremlin.
But for a leader who has promised security and stability to Russians, a large-scale terror attack on home soil is a powerful blow to his image.
Persons:
Vladimir Putin, Moscow –, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin
Organizations:
Crocus City Hall, ISIS –, Kremlin
Locations:
Russia, Crocus, Moscow, Putin’s, Ukraine, Ukrainian, jihadists, Russian