> I would go with the Kremlin would tend to avoid looking inept or stupid and prefer people believe the enemy blew up their ship I would think the Kremlin woul

> I would go with the Kremlin would tend to avoid looking inept or stupid and prefer people believe the enemy blew up their ship I would think the Kremlin would go with the option that doesn't give their enemy any credit for being able to hurt them. You can pin your own incompetence on a few miscreants who can be punished, but the enemy's capacity for success is something entirely out of your control. Authoritarian states need to seem strong, even when losing.