Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow and Director of Africa Asia Dialogues has expressed concerns over a potential Russian response.

President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the perpetrators of the attack were linked to Ukraine, despite ISIS claiming responsibility for the incident. Ukraine has refuted any involvement in the attack.

The incident adds complexity to the ongoing conflict, which began over two years ago when Russia initiated a full-scale invasion.

Despite being significantly outmatched, Ukraine has continued to offer strong resistance. Fakude speculates that ISIS's interests lie beyond targeting Russia, casting doubt on their claim.

He warns that if Russia maintains its stance on Ukraine's alleged involvement, retaliation by President Putin could be imminent. "It appears Ukraine may bear the brunt of Putin's proclaimed retribution," Fakude stated, highlighting the confusion surrounding the attack's attribution and the potential consequences for Ukraine.

--SABC--