Lukashenko derails Putin’s narrative about ‘Ukrainian trace’ in Moscow terror attack

The statement contradicts Kremlin propaganda claims that they were planning to travel immediately to Ukraine.

Belarusian state news agency BelTA quotes Lukashenko saying, "They couldn't possibly enter Belarus; they realized this, so they turned away and headed for a section of the Ukrainian-Russian border."

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin previously said that the perpetrators were “Islamist extremists,” but insisted that Kyiv was somehow connected to the act of terror because the terrorists were—according to Putin—attempting to escape to Ukraine.

On March 22, several people opened fire from automatic weapons on civilians at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, before setting fire to the venue. According to Russian authorities, 139 people died. The Islamic State subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.