Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has since called Putin a “lowlife b*****d” for his comments.
Russia expert Mark Galeotti of the Royal United Services Insititute has revealed that some sources within the Russian security services are furious with Putin for trying to blame the attack on Ukraine.
He told Times Radio: “The main thing I am getting from contacts within the Russian security apparatus is obviously a deep sense of shame about the fact that this was allowed to happen.
“But, frankly, even amongst them, exasperation with Putin over him trying to claim that this is something that it isn’t. In other words, an attack from Ukraine rather than an ISIS terror incident.”
He added: “I think it is clear that whatever Putin may be saying for public consumption, the Russian state’s working assumption is absolutely that this is ISIS-K.”
Mr Galeotti also explained how the attack could weaken his standing in Russia.
He said: “It does weaken Putin, back in the day he had two main forms of legitimation. One was that he was a great provider, that, under him Russian quality of life steadily improved.
“The other one was that he is the strong defender of the Motherland. For most Russians now quality of life is increasingly under pressure, that social contract has been broken.
“So all he really has left is the tough guy who will keep you safe. The tough guy has clearly not kept a large number of Russians safe.
“So there is a lot of dismay, and it is manifesting itself on social media and all kinds of other ways.
“As far as they are concerned, this is all part of a general sense that Putin is no longer who he was, no longer quite so stern and reliable in protecting them all.”
The attack came just days after Putin secured 87 percent of the vote to win a Russian election seen around the world as a sham process.
