Amidst the aftermath of a deadly attack at Crocus City Hall outside Moscow that claimed the lives of at least 143 people in one of the deadliest terror incidents in Russia in recent memory, questions are being raised about why Russia’s extensive security services failed to prevent such a catastrophic event. Just days before the attack, warnings from both American intelligence agencies and Russia’s own security establishment pointed to a potential threat from ISIS-K, an offshoot of the Islamic State known to be active in Afghanistan.

The warnings were serious enough to prompt the U.S. embassy in Moscow to issue a public alert, which is a highly unusual move, indicating the credibility of the threat. However, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin dismissed the warnings as attempts to destabilize Russian society, casting doubt on the validity of the intelligence.

Internal Russian intelligence reports hinted at an increased risk of an attack orchestrated by ethnic Tajiks radicalized by ISIS-K, a detail that would later prove to be true as the suspects in the attack were identified as Tajik nationals. Despite these warnings, the attack could not be prevented, raising concerns about the efficacy of Russia’s intelligence and law enforcement apparatus.

Experts point to a combination of factors that may have contributed to the security lapse, including a lack of trust within the Russian security establishment and strained relations with global intelligence agencies. The politicization of Russia’s security services under Putin’s regime, focusing on crackdowns against political dissent and external threats like Ukraine, may have diverted attention and resources away from real terrorist threats.

Furthermore, the expanding definition of extremism in Russia, targeting a wide range of groups beyond Islamist extremists, has strained the resources and focus of security agencies. The Russian security services have traditionally been equipped to handle domestic threats but may lack the expertise in dealing with international terror groups like ISIS-K and penetrating extremist cells in Central Asia.

The adversarial relationship between the U.S. and Russia also played a role in the failure to prevent the attack, as both countries were reluctant to share sensitive intelligence out of fear of compromising their sources and methods. The aftermath of the attack has only added to the tensions between the two nations, with Russia pointing fingers at the U.S. for allegedly being complicit in the incident.

In the wake of this tragic event, questions remain about how Russia, with its vast security apparatus, fell short in preventing a catastrophic attack despite having prior warnings. The need for better coordination, trust, and information sharing among intelligence agencies to combat terrorism effectively has been underscored by this incident. As the investigation continues and more details emerge, the focus will be on addressing the shortcomings that led to this security failure and preventing similar tragedies in the future.