"Putin's Inner Circle Denies Ukraine Link in Moscow Terror Attack"

Following a deadly terror attack in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's response and subsequent landslide election victory signal a consolidation of power reminiscent of autocratic leaders in ex-Soviet countries. The attack has been used to further Putin's narrative of fighting against external threats, while dissent and opposition are being suppressed. The state's control over the narrative and the public's acceptance of diminished democracy raise concerns about the future of Russia under Putin's rule.