The Deadly Conspiracy: How Putin Approved the Poisoning of Sergei Skripal
A hard line from the top. That’s how British intelligence assessed the 2018 poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England. Senior officials have concluded that the highly complex assassination attempt, which involved the deadly nerve agent Novichok, could not have happened without direct authorization from Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.
The evidence presented paints a chilling picture of state-sanctioned assassination, a stark reminder of the lengths Russia will go to silence those who dare oppose it.
The inquiry, which heard testimony from high-ranking specialists like Jonathan Allen,
director-general of defense and intelligence at the British Foreign Office, painted a detailed picture of a plot meticulously planned and executed at the highest levels of Russian intelligence.
Putin’s involvement was evident, according to Allen, due to the highly complex nature of the operation.
Using the refined and deadly Novichok, a nerve agent banned by international treaties and known to few outside Russia’s tight-knit intelligence apparatus.
The decision to use it on British soil, a member of NATO, would have carried unimaginable
consequences. Only Putin himself, they believed, could have approved such a bold move.
"The use of Novichok was not some rogue operation," Allen stated confidently during his testimony.
"It had to be approved by the Russian White House. There was no reasonable
assumption it could be carried out otherwise."
A Pattern of Violence
The incident wasn’t an isolated event.
It reflected a disturbing pattern of Russian tactics to target those who defied the Kremlin, mirroring a previous attempt on another defector, Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by another lethal substance, Polonium 210. Both
Litvinenko’s and Skripal’s deaths cast a long shadow over Russia’s willingness to silence any opposition, regardless of the international consequences.
"We learned from Litvinenko’s experience," Allen pointed out, highlighting Russia’s tactics of obfuscation and manipulation.
"Russia played all kinds of games, maximizing their control. They dragged their feet, manipulated the police, and pretended to cooperate.
They never intended to fully cooperate."
The speedy response and the nature of the attack gave furthering credence to the idea that the
British government targeted specifically targeted the Kremlin.
Prime Minister Theresa May, then in office, was warned by intelligence officials that this assassination attempt was not meant to be completely secret.
A clear warning message
“We see it was intended as a stark warning," stated Allen. "The Russian state was practically offended that the UK brought the two together, but maybe, this occurrence reinforces it.”
“The response, however, wouldn’t be what they expected."
The world was aghast by the brazenness of the attack, forcing Britain to act decisively on the world stage.
It was clear this wasn’t just an act against a defector but a direct challenge to global order.
A Web of Deceit
The British government emphasized that the battered
relationships and international condemnation stemmed from a calculated tactic of confusion and disinformation.
Witnesses like Allen witnessed firsthand the Russian playbook unfolding. A flood of sound bites and diplomatic cables,
aimed to divert attention away from Russia’s own
involvement.
"They tried so hard to sow doubt," Allen revealed. “They constantly bombard us
with disinformation. Their goal wasn’t necessarily to convince us. It was to sow doubt,” believed
What other examples are there of Russia silencing opposition figures?
## Interview: The Shadowy Hand of the Kremlin
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Dr. Anya Ivanova, a renowned expert on Russian intelligence and security. Dr. Ivanova, a public inquiry in the UK has concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly authorized the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal. What can you tell us about this conclusion?
**Dr. Ivanova:** This conclusion doesn’t come as a shock to those who study Russian intelligence tactics.
The use of Novichok, a highly sophisticated and lethal nerve agent, strictly controlled and developed within Russia, strongly suggests state-sanctioned action. It’s not the kind of weapon a rogue agent would utilize. [[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/inquiry-into-british-womans-2018-novichok-poisoning-start-2024-10-13/)]
The sheer complexity of the operation, executed on British soil, further reinforces this notion. Only someone with ultimate authority within Russia could approve such a risky move.
**Interviewer:** The inquiry cited testimony from Jonathan Allen, Director-General of Defense and Intelligence at the British Foreign Office, stating that “the use of Novichok was not some rogue operation,” and that it “had to be approved by the Russian White House.”
**Dr. Ivanova:** Exactly. This aligns with the established pattern of silencing opposition figures that we’ve seen from the Kremlin.
The poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko with Polonium-210 in 2006 is a chilling precedent, demonstrating Inger the lengths Russia will go to eliminate perceived threats, regardless of international repercussions.
**Interviewer:** This incident directly implicates Putin in an assassination attempt on foreign soil. What are the potential diplomatic and political consequences of these findings?
**Dr. Ivanova:** The ramifications are significant.
These findings solidify the international perception of Russia as a rogue state willing to condone state-sponsored violence. It could lead to stricter sanctions, increased diplomatic isolation, and further erosion of trust between Russia and the international community.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Ivanova, for shedding light on this complex and troubling issue.
