Sergei Skripal is back in the news after Russia expelled a UK diplomat over espionage claims. Once a Russian spy, now a key figure in spy drama.
Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia's GRU military intelligence, was shot in Moscow. Russia claims Ukraine orchestrated the attack, with a suspect detained in Dubai. Ukraine denies involvement. The incident follows a pattern of high-profile assassinations amid ongoing tensions.
On February 14, 2026, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands announced that analysis of samples from Alexei Navalny's body confirmed poisoning by epibatidine, a lethal toxin from South American poison dart frogs. The countries blamed Russia, citing its means, motive, and opportunity, and reported the case to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Russia denies involvement.
Laboratory analysis confirms opposition leader Navalny was poisoned with epibatidine, a rare neurotoxin linked to Russian state activities. Multiple countries' governments point to Russia as the prime suspect, reviving fears of Moscow's use of poisons against opponents. The Kremlin denies involvement.
Russia's FSB expelled the second secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow, alleging he was involved in intelligence activities and attempting to obtain sensitive economic information. The UK dismisses the accusations as baseless, marking the second such expulsion this year amid ongoing tensions over espionage and diplomatic disputes.