Overview
- An official UK public inquiry led by former Supreme Court judge Anthony Hughes concluded the 2018 operation was state-directed and authorized at the highest level by Vladimir Putin.
- Britain sanctioned the GRU in its entirety, named eight alleged GRU cyber officers, and summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin following the findings.
- The inquiry says operatives applied Novichok to Sergei Skripal’s door and abandoned a perfume bottle used to import the agent, which later killed civilian Dawn Sturgess.
- Prosecutors have charged three alleged GRU officers over the Skripal attack, but the cases are stalled due to the absence of an extradition path from Russia.
- Moscow denies involvement and rejects the UK’s conclusions, with officials indicating Russia does not recognize the sanctions and reserves the right to respond.