Britain has rolled out a fresh round of sanctions against seven people and two Russian research institutes, accusing them of working on chemical weapons that international treaties have long outlawed. According to the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the measures target activity linked to two lethal substances, Epibatidine and Novichok, both of which have surfaced in high-profile poisonings in recent years. Britain says these substances were used in poisonings in Siberia in 2024 and in Wiltshire in 2018.
The UK made clear that the sanctions are aimed at Russians tied to developing and producing toxic chemicals. Britain argues that such work was carried out for purposes banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, meaning it amounts to a direct breach of the international treaty.
Which labs and people were targeted
The first of the two sanctioned institutes is SC Signal, described as a Russian state scientific research institute. The second is GNIII VM, whose full name is the State Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Military Medicine. The UK says both were linked to activity connected with prohibited chemical weapons research.
The list of sanctioned individuals includes Vladimir Kondratyev, Andrei Antokhin and Viktor Taranchenko. According to Britain, Kondratyev co-authored a paper on Epibatidine testing that examined its toxic effects. Antokhin and Taranchenko, meanwhile, are accused of carrying out research on Novichok nerve agents.
The poisonings behind the sanctions
Britain has tied the new measures to the notorious poisoning cases that have shaken the world in recent years. The FCDO said the announcement was timed just ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey beginning on Tuesday. The intent is straightforward: to expose and deter Russian activity that the UK considers a violation of international law.
Yvette Cooper's stern warning
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper delivered a blistering rebuke of Moscow. "Russia's repeated use of chemical weapons is a sickening violation of international law and a direct threat to global security," she said. "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," she added.
Navalny's death and the wider campaign
The FCDO said the sanctions form part of broader UK efforts to expose and deter illegal chemical weapons activity. Britain also linked the step to discussions at the Munich Security Conference in February, where, it says, partners united to confirm the abhorrent circumstances surrounding the death of Alexei Navalny in Russian custody.
The FCDO stated: "Only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin to target Navalny, and the UK holds it responsible for his death." The office also reiterated that Novichok was used in Wiltshire in 2018 to poison British national Dawn Sturgess.
The NATO summit and aid to Ukraine
Britain said it would keep working with allies at the NATO summit in Ankara this week. According to the FCDO, the talks will cover military aid to Ukraine and steps to strengthen Ukraine's defences. The UK also reaffirmed that NATO remains ready to protect its citizens against Russia.
A list of more than 3,400 names
Britain said it has now sanctioned over 3,400 individuals and organisations in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The latest measures add chemical weapons research and alleged use to that growing list. The UK said it would continue to act alongside its allies under the Chemical Weapons Convention framework.
