The UK government has unveiled a significant new package of sanctions targeting Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, following a damning public inquiry which concluded that President Vladimir Putin personally authorised the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.
Sanctions Follow Sturgess Inquiry Bombshell
The decisive action was announced on 4 December 2025, directly responding to the findings of the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry. The inquiry delivered a stark verdict, stating that the Russian President had ordered the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which led to the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess in July 2018. In response, the Foreign Office has sanctioned and exposed 11 individuals involved in Russian state-sponsored hostile activities against the UK, with many linked directly to the GRU.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the findings served as a grave reminder of the Kremlin's reckless actions. "The Salisbury poisonings shocked the nation and today’s findings are a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives," Starmer said. He added that Dawn Sturgess's "needless death was a tragedy and will forever be a reminder of Russia’s reckless aggression."
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure Intensifies
In a parallel diplomatic move, the Russian Ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office to account for Russia's ongoing campaign of hostility. The new sanctions form part of a broader strategy to apply continuous pressure on the Putin regime.
Outlining the government's position, Prime Minister Starmer was unequivocal: "The UK will always stand up to Putin’s brutal regime and call out his murderous machine for what it is." He framed the latest measures as a step in the UK's "unwavering defence of European security," aimed at squeezing Russian finances and strengthening Ukraine's hand in any future negotiations.
A Firm Stance Against Hostile Activity
The government's response signals a continued hardline approach towards state-sponsored threats. By publicly naming and imposing sanctions on the GRU operatives, the UK aims to disrupt their activities and hold them accountable. This package represents the latest escalation in the longstanding diplomatic and economic pressure applied by the UK since the original Salisbury attack, reinforcing its commitment to counter what it describes as Putin's "murderous machine."
The Prime Minister concluded his remarks by extending his thoughts to the family and loved ones of Dawn Sturgess, for whom the inquiry's findings bring a painful chapter back into focus.
