Putin expected to use deadly Moscow attack to Russia's advantage, whoever's to blame

Russian President Vladimir Putin's next move is being watched closely after he linked Ukraine to the deadly terrorist attack that took place in a Moscow concert hall Friday, leaving at least 137 people dead.

Russian officials and pro-Kremlin hawks continue to level blame at Kyiv for the attack at the Crocus City Hall venue, where gunmen killed concert-goers, including three children, and wounded at least 140. Kyiv vehemently denies any involvement.

Four suspects, three of whom were confirmed as Tajik nationals, appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday night, looking beaten, bruised and disoriented. They were charged with carrying out an act of terrorism and remanded in custody ahead of trial.

The Islamic State said at the weekend that it was behind the attack and released graphic footage of the incident via an IS-affiliated news agency. U.S. officials and defense experts agreed that it's highly likely that IS was responsible for the attack.

That hasn't stopped top Russian officials blaming Ukraine — and the West — for the attack.

Putin claimed the attackers had links to Ukraine and said they had been caught en route to the country, alleging that "a window had been prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border." He did not present any evidence for the claim.

A raft of other Russian politicians and senior officials accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, and blamed the West for propping up what they describe as a "terrorist" regime in Kyiv, accusing the U.S. of looking to destabilize Russia.

On his Telegram channel, Dmitry Medvedev, former president and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council commented on Telegram that "if it is established that these are terrorists of the Kyiv regime, it is impossible to deal