LONDON –
President Vladimir Putin says Russia’s war in Ukraine is part of an existential battle with the West that requires total attention — but deadly shootings in Dagestan show militant Islam is a growing threat that could force him to give up some of his redirect resources.
The latest violence, which left at least 20 people dead in a series of apparently coordinated shootings in Russia’s far south on Sunday evening, raises difficult questions for Russia’s intelligence and security services.
They appear to be caught off guard at a time when much of their attention is focused on Ukraine and the threat of Ukraine-linked attacks in Russia.
