In a direct response to a public inquiry blaming the Russian state for a lethal 2018 nerve agent attack, Britain sanctioned Russia's entire GRU military intelligence agency on Thursday. The government also summoned Russia's ambassador over Moscow's "ongoing campaign of hostile activity."
The inquiry concluded that President Vladimir Putin must have authorized the GRU's Novichok attack on ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, which later led to the death of Dawn Sturgess. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the findings were "a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives."
The new sanctions package targets the GRU as an institution, eight of its cyber intelligence officers, and three additional GRU officers accused of plotting hostile acts in Ukraine and Europe, including attacks on supermarkets. This expands Britain's existing raft of sanctions imposed since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russia denied all involvement in the Salisbury incident and condemned the UK's actions. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia does not recognize the "illegitimate sanctions" and promised retaliatory measures, stating the British could be "confident in the inevitability" of such a response.
________________________________________________________________________
Source: REUTERS
