The UK on Thursday sanctioned Russia’s GRU intelligence agency and summoned Moscow’s ambassador after a public inquiry found President Vladimir Putin bore “moral responsibility” for the 2018 Novichok death of British citizen Dawn Sturgess.
Sturgess, 44, died after spraying herself with what she thought was perfume from a discarded bottle later confirmed to contain the nerve agent used in the attempted assassination of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.
The inquiry concluded the attack “must have been authorised at the highest level” and said Putin’s agents acted with “astonishing recklessness.”
Two suspected GRU operatives allegedly brought the Novichok to the UK before targeting the Skripals. While both survived, the discarded bottle fatally poisoned Sturgess four months later.
London said the ambassador was summoned over Russia’s “ongoing hostile activity” and imposed sanctions on the GRU “in its entirety” as well as 11 individuals. Moscow denies involvement.
