British authorities have revealed new details about the search for Russian citizens suspected of poisoning Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok in July 2018. At the hearing into the death of Salisbury resident Dawn Sturgess (she was most likely an accidental victim of poisoning), the head of the London police counter-terrorism department, Dominic Murphy, spoke.
The likely employees of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense were initially known as Alexander Petrov, Ruslan Boshirov and Sergei Fedotov, but later journalists found out that their real names were Anatoly Chepiga, Alexander Mishkin and Denis Sergeev.
No charges have been brought in connection with the poisoning of Dawn Sturgess. As Murphy explained during the hearing, this is due to the fact that on the day of the poisoning, “Petrov” and “Boshirov” disappeared from the view of CCTV cameras for 33 minutes.
During this period of time, they could get rid of a container of poison disguised as a bottle of perfume. Sturgess was subsequently poisoned by the contents of the bottle. However, exactly where and how this happened is not known exactly.
Sturgess’s friend Charlie Rowley, who suffered from Novichok but survived, said he found the vial in a donation basket from which those in need can take what they need, items or food.
Murphy said the investigation, called Operation Katerva, a Latin word that can mean “group of people,” identified Petrov, Boshirov and Fedotov.
Investigators, together with British counterintelligence MI5, were able to “obtain a significant amount of information” to bring charges against all three in connection with the Salisbury poisonings, Murphy explained. From his words it follows that the suspects are employees of GRU unit 29155. The military unit under this number is better known in Russia as the 161st Center for Training Intelligence Specialists.
“Petrov”, “Boshirov” and “Fedotov” arrived in London on March 2, 2018. Petrov’s plane landed at Heathrow, the other two landed at Gatwick. On March 4, they all left the country.
Murphy said two suspects in the Salisbury poisoning visited the city for “reconnaissance purposes” the day before Skripal was poisoned, on March 3.
London police do not have cell phone data from the two suspects for March 3 or 4, 2018, the day before the poisoning and when Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury.
Boshirov’s phone was “offline” and Petrov’s cell phone was offline in the Waterloo area, Murphy said, adding that he believed this was done “to avoid associating them with this trip and/or Salisbury “.
The investigation was shown CCTV footage of “Petrov” and “Boshirov” in Salisbury on March 3, as well as the route they allegedly took.
The recordings show that both suspects looked at their phones from time to time. According to Murphy, they could use the devices for navigation, but communication with cell towers was disabled.
On March 3, “Petrov” and “Boshirov” returned to the station, and then set off on foot again to the Skripals’ house.
Murphy believes the trip to Salisbury on March 3 was made for “reconnaissance purposes” to familiarize himself with the location of the Skripals’ residence and routes to other parts of the city and the railway station.
The next day, March 4, “Petrov” and “Boshirov” again set off for Salisbury. It was then, according to Murphy, that the poison was applied to the door handle in Skripal’s house, and the investigation was shown CCTV footage of their movements.
On the day of the poisoning, 4 March 2018, two agents traveling to Salisbury checked out of the City Stay hotel in Bow, east London. Two months later, residual traces of Novichok were found near the sink and window in their room.
On the day of the poisoning, CCTV cameras were not working for 15 minutes on a section of Christie-Miller Road in Salisbury. The police believe that Novichok was applied to the handle of the front door of the Skripals’ house between 12:00 and 12:15, that is, precisely during this pause in the cameras.
The suspects then returned to Salisbury city center but then disappeared from CCTV again for 33 minutes.
Police believe that it was during this period of time that they got rid of the container of poison – the same one that later poisoned Dawn Sturgess. However, the route along which “Petrov” and “Boshirov” moved during this half hour is not precisely known.
CCTV shows that before boarding the 2.33pm train to London, Petrov and Boshirov walked past the station and returned to Devizes Road, near Christie Miller Road.
This would have been just in time to see the Skripals leaving the house, so the agents could have seen that their plan had worked.
Currently, police believe, all three suspects are in Russia. There is no extradition treaty between Moscow and London, meaning there is virtually no chance of bringing them to the UK for trial.
In the UK, all three are charged with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and using a chemical weapon. All these accusations are related to the poisoning of the Skripals, not Dawn Sturgess.
The hearing into Sturgess’ death continues.
Russia denies involvement in the Salisbury poisonings.
Q: What long-term consequences do you foresee for UK-Russia relations following the revelations about the suspects in the Salisbury poisoning?
1. Introduction of the Guests
Guest 1: Charlie Rowley, friend of Dawn Sturgess, the accidental victim of the Salisbury poisoning
Guest 2: A British counter-terrorism expert
2. New Developments in the Search for the Suspects
Q: How do you react to the recent revelations made by Dominic Murphy about the search for the Russian suspects in the Salisbury poisonings?
Guest 1: As someone who has lost a loved one due to this heinous crime, I am relieved that progress is being made in the investigation, even though it might be too late for my friend. The fact that the suspects have been identified and their true identities revealed is a step forward in bringing them to justice.
Guest 2: The identification of the suspects and their possible locations in Salisbury on the day of the poisoning is a significant breakthrough in the investigation. However, the disappearance of the CCTV footage and the lack of phone records during the crucial time of the poisoning makes it challenging to gather concrete evidence. Additionally, the fact that all three suspects are most likely in Russia makes it difficult to bring them to trial.
3. The Role of Reconnaissance and the Use of Perfume Bottle
Q: In what ways do you think reconnaissance played a role in the poisoning plan?
Guest 1: It’s clear that the suspects were familiar with Salisbury and the location of the Skripals’ home, indicating that they had carried out some form of reconnaissance prior to the attack. The use of a perfume bottle as a means to deliver the poison was deceptive and shows the level of planning that went into this assassination attempt.
Guest 2: Reconnaissance is essential in any military-style operation, and it’s not surprising that the suspects would have conducted surveillance on the Skripals’ residence. The use of a perfume bottle as a delivery mechanism was clever, as it’s unlikely that the Skripals or anyone else would suspect a weapon being hidden in such an innocuous container. This highlights the sophistication of the attack and the training received by the suspects.
4. Impact on UK-Russia Relations
Q:
