See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 12:38 BST, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 12:44 BST, 6 July 2026
Britain today slapped fresh sanctions on those involved in Russia's 'barbaric' chemical weapons programme.The Foreign Office announced the action against the scientists and organisations involved in creating the Novichok nerve agent used in the Salisbury poisonings, which killed UK national Dawn Sturgess.The sanctions also target those who helped produce the lethal Epibatidine toxin - developed from a dart frog - used to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February 2024.It comes ahead of this week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, when Britain and its allies will discuss how to further combat the threat posed by Russia.Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Russia's repeated use of chemical weapons is a sickening violation of international law and a direct threat to global security.'From the use of Novichok nerve agents in Salisbury to Epibatidine in Siberia, poisoning Dawn Sturgess and Alexei Navalny, Russia continues to use barbaric tools to inflict death and suffering on innocent civilians, including in Ukraine.'We will continue to call out Russia's violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, hold those responsible to account, and work with allies to deter further use of these dangerous weapons.'The sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes, have been imposed on seven individuals and two scientific research institutes. People in hazmat suits are pictured investigating the Nobichok poisonings in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in March 2018 The sanctions also target those who helped produce the lethal Epibatidine toxin used to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei NavalnyThose sanctioned include directors and technical specialists at organisations involved in Russia's development and synthesis of toxic chemicals.These include SC Signal, a Russian state scientific research institute, GNIII VM, the State Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Military Medicine and GosNIIOKhT, the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology, which the UK sanctioned in October 2020.The individuals sanctioned include Vladimir Kondratyev who co-authored a paper on the testing of Epibatidine - a potent neurotoxin found in the skin of certain small frogs - focusing on its toxic qualities, as well as Andrei Antokhin and Viktor Taranchenko who conducted research on Novichok nerve agents.In March 2018, Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury, while a third victim - Ms Sturgess - died in July of that year after coming into contact with the nerve agent.Two Russian military intelligence officers are suspected to have carried out the nerve agent attack.Britain has also blamed the Kremlin for killing Mr Navalny, who died at a Siberian penal colony. Monday's announcement of fresh sanctions against Russia came after it was revealed RAF fighter jets intercepted a Russian maritime patrol aircraft when it 'repeatedly approached' the UK's Carrier Strike Group in the Norwegian Sea last week.The Russian Bear-F plane dropped a series of buoys into the water near to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence revealed.It condemned the activity in the Norwegian Sea as 'unsafe and unprofessional'.The UK's Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed off Iceland under NATO command, with 1,500 British personnel on board.The group consists of HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, F-35 jets, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, and is supported by RFA Tidespring.The Bear-F, a plane which can be used for reconnaissance or as a bomber, is believed to have dropped tens of sonobuoys into the waters near the Prince of Wales.The monitoring devices float on the water and use sonar to detect submarines and other vessels.The British forces attempted to contact the Russian plane on international frequencies, but it did not respond.Two F-35 jets then flew from the Prince of Wales to escort the Bear-F away from the Carrier Strike Group.
