The United Kingdom has imposed fresh sanctions on seven Russian scientists and two research institutes accused of helping develop chemical weapons linked to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Announcing the measures on Monday, the UK Foreign Office said the sanctions target individuals and institutions allegedly involved in the research, development and production of toxic chemical agents.
According to the British government, the sanctions cover scientists and senior technical specialists associated with two Russian research facilities: SC Signal, a state scientific research institute, and the Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Military Medicine (GNIII VM).
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Russia’s repeated use of chemical weapons represented a serious breach of international law.
“Russia’s repeated use of chemical weapons is a sickening violation of international law and a direct threat to global security,” Cooper said.
British authorities said the sanctions relate to the Soviet-developed Novichok nerve agent used in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, in Salisbury, England.
The attack triggered widespread international condemnation and prompted dozens of Western countries to expel Russian diplomats.
Although the Skripals survived, a British woman, Dawn Sturgess, later died after coming into contact with a discarded perfume bottle believed to have contained the Novichok agent.
The sanctions also relate to the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, whom British authorities say was targeted with a chemical agent before his death in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024 while serving a 19-year prison sentence.
Russia has consistently denied involvement in both the Skripal and Navalny poisoning cases.
The latest sanctions come ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, where leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader European security challenges.
The UK Foreign Office said Britain has now sanctioned more than 3,400 individuals and organisations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
