The British government has imposed sanctions on Russia's GRU military intelligence agency and summoned Moscow's ambassador, following a public inquiry's conclusion that President Vladimir Putin authorised the 2018 nerve agent attack on British soil.
Inquiry Points to Kremlin's Highest Level
The decisive action was taken on Thursday, 4th December 2025, after the inquiry led by former Supreme Court Justice Sir Anthony Hughes delivered its findings. The report stated the attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the city of Salisbury "must have been authorised at the highest level" of the Russian state by President Putin.
The government announced it was sanctioning the GRU in its entirety for its role in the incident. The attack, which used the military-grade nerve agent Novichok, left Sergei and Yulia Skripal seriously ill, though they both survived.
A Tragic Case of Collateral Damage
The inquiry also investigated the death of Dawn Sturgess, a British woman who was an innocent victim of the reckless operation. Ms Sturgess and her partner fell ill after she sprayed a discarded perfume bottle containing the Novichok onto her wrist. She died days later in July 2018, while her partner survived.
A police officer, Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, was also hospitalised after attending the Skripals' home but later recovered. Sir Anthony concluded that Ms Sturgess's death was a direct result of an assassination attempt conducted by officers of a Russian state organisation.
Cyber Operations and Official Condemnation
Alongside the GRU sanctions, the UK Foreign Office named eight alleged cyber military intelligence officers for their work with the agency. It was revealed that these officers had targeted Yulia Skripal with malware five years prior to the Novichok attack, indicating a long-running campaign.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded strongly to the inquiry's findings, stating they serve as "a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives." He added that Dawn Sturgess's "needless death was a tragedy and will forever be a reminder of Russia’s reckless aggression."
The Russian government has consistently denied any involvement in the Salisbury attack. The UK's latest sanctions represent a significant diplomatic escalation, reaffirming the British government's stance on the incident seven years on.
