Skripal Novichok Case Leads UK to Sanction GRU and Key Russian Officers
The UK imposed sanctions on the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) following investigation into the death of British citizen Don Sturgess from “Novichok” poisoning.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters and Politico.
An official UK investigation determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin bears “moral responsibility” for the 2018 “Novichok” poisoning, which led to the death of British citizen Dawn Sturgess.
She died after accidentally spraying herself with a bottle of perfume containing the toxic substance, which had been given to her by her then-partner. The attack on former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia occurred four months earlier and was seen as a public demonstration of Russian power.
Anthony Hughes, who led the investigation, emphasized that Sturgess’s death was entirely unnecessary and arbitrary, and that the attack itself was a professionally organized operation.
As a result, on December 4, 2025, the UK introduced new sanctions against Russia, including the entire Russian military intelligence agency, due to the 2018 “Novichok” poisoning. The sanctions also targeted eight officers of the GRU’s military cyber-intelligence division and three other agency employees whom London considers responsible for organizing hostile actions against Ukraine and other European countries, including planning attacks on Ukrainian supermarkets.
According to the public UK investigation, President Vladimir Putin likely authorized the attack on double agent Sergei Skripal, highlighting the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that these findings show all the danger posed by Russia’s actions.
"Today's findings are a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives," he said.
The UK government also summoned the Russian ambassador to explain the investigation results and Moscow’s “prolonged campaign of hostile activity” against London. Russia denies any involvement in the Salisbury incident and claims it does not recognize sanctions imposed “on fabricated grounds” bypassing the UN Security Council, reserving the right to take retaliatory measures.
The United Kingdom has continued its long-term strategy of imposing sanctions on Russia, targeting officials, organizations, and financial networks involved in war crimes, aggression, and sanctions evasion.
On September 3, 2025, the UK imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and state-affiliated organizations responsible for the forced deportation, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children in temporarily occupied territories. The list includes eight officials and three organizations, such as the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation and the state-run ‘Teenage Programs Center.’
In addition, the UK has targeted Russian financial networks in Kyrgyzstan and cryptocurrency schemes used to evade sanctions and fund military operations in Ukraine. The sanctions hit Kyrgyzstan-based Capital Bank and its director, as well as crypto exchanges like Grinex and Meer, which supported the rouble-backed A7A5 token that moved $9.3 billion in four months.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the UK has imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, as well as 51 tankers in the shadow fleet, to limit the Kremlin's revenues and increase energy pressure on Russia.