Britain has implemented significant sanctions against nine Russian individuals and entities allegedly responsible for developing chemical weapons used to target opposition leader Alexei Navalny and former spy Sergei Skripal.

The UK Foreign Office officials revealed the sanctions targeting seven individuals and two scientific organizations linked to the creation of the toxic substances involved in poisoning Navalny and the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack on Skripal. The attack in Salisbury in 2018 caused severe illness to Skripal and his daughter Yulia, as well as the death of Dawn Sturgess, after Russian operatives placed the substance at their residence.

Navalny, who died at age 47 in a Siberian prison two years ago, was poisoned with epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. He had also been previously poisoned with a substance resembling Novichok, which resulted in the death of Dawn Sturgess and his hospitalization following an incident on a flight.

Following recovery in a European hospital, Navalny returned to Russia where he was arrested and sentenced to 19 years in prison. The UK has issued a European Arrest Warrant for the suspects behind the Salisbury Novichok attack, identified as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, believed to be affiliated with Russian military intelligence.

The sanctions imposed by the UK include asset freezes and travel bans on seven individuals and two research institutes involved in chemical weapons research. The Foreign Secretary condemned Russia’s repeated use of chemical weapons, labeling it a violation of international law and a direct threat to global security.

The UK, along with NATO allies, is strengthening collective security measures to address the ongoing threat posed by Russia’s actions, including the invasion of Ukraine. The UK’s efforts to expose and deter illegal chemical weapons activities by Russia continue, with a focus on holding those responsible accountable and preventing further use of such dangerous weapons.

The latest round of sanctions targets individuals like Vladimir Kondratyev, Andrei Antokhin, and Viktor Taranchenko, all involved in research related to the toxic substances used in the attacks. The UK has now sanctioned over 3,400 individuals and organizations in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, with a commitment to combat hostile activities at every opportunity.