UEA expert says Russia's attacks on Ukraine are likely to intensify
Only recently has the Russian President acknowledged that what he describes as "radical islamists" are behind an attack on a concert hall near Moscow
An international politics expert from a Norfolk University is telling us he expects Russia's attacks on Ukraine will intensify in the coming days.
Only recently has the Russian President acknowledged that what he describes as "radical islamists" are behind an attack on a concert hall near Moscow, which left more than 130 people dead last week.
Vladimir Putin's also saying Ukraine played a part though, saying it's necessary to find out "why the terrorists after committing their crime tried to flee to Ukraine and who was waiting for them there".
"They're not just fighting a war in Ukraine"
Dr Ra Mason is from the University of East Anglia: "We are seeing deliberate targeting of civil infrastructure, on the grounds from a Russian point of view that this can all be used as part of Ukraine's military campaigns.
"This attack illustrates the vulnerabilities of Russia and points to the fact that they're not just fighting a war in Ukraine, but are also facing a threat from Islamic extremism - as they have been from a long time, since the Chechen wars.
"Groups like ISIS will use instability in the international environment"
"The Russians have blamed the US for not giving them sufficient intelligence to pinpoint the attack. So it's something that demonstrates that groups like ISIS will use instability in the international environment to their advantage."
Dr Mason says the US have done Ukraine no favours by exonerating them of wrong-doing so quickly after the attack: "Concerningly they did this really too soon after the event for us all to be sure that they could possibly know that.
"Even if there is no involvement from the Ukrainian side, the US have undermined the credibility of that position."
How has Ukraine been affected by this so far?
Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv on Monday morning- as a Russian attack hit the Ukrainian capital for the third time in five days.
The attack came amid an apparent escalation of aerial bombardment of cities by the Kremlin's forces as the war stretches into its third year with the front line largely stationary.
Five people were injured in the strike on the Ukrainian capital, with two taken to hospital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said Russia fired two ballistic missiles at Kyiv from occupied Crimea in the daylight attack, but both were intercepted above the city.
Multiple explosions were heard in the latest scare for residents.
Missile debris damaged homes in two districts and a gym in another district of the city, Ukraine'sNational Police said.