Fri Dec 05 03:03:34 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Public Inquiry: Putin “Probably” Ordered Skripal Poisoning
London, UK – A UK public inquiry concluded on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “probably” authorized the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. The report, released after years of investigation, paints a picture of a reckless display of power that ultimately led to the death of Dawn Sturgess, an innocent British woman.
The inquiry, headed by retired High Court judge Sir Robert Owen, investigated the circumstances surrounding the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury. They were found incapacitated after being exposed to the deadly nerve agent Novichok.
The report stops short of stating definitively that Putin ordered the attack but concludes that there is a high probability he was responsible. The inquiry examined evidence including intelligence reports and historical patterns of Russian state-sponsored assassination attempts.
The poisoning had far-reaching consequences. While the Skripals survived, Dawn Sturgess tragically died after unknowingly handling a discarded perfume bottle containing the Novichok agent. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, also suffered severe poisoning but survived.
The attack sparked international condemnation, leading to a series of diplomatic expulsions and sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Skripal poisoning and the death of Dawn Sturgess.
The findings of the inquiry are likely to further strain relations between the UK and Russia and will undoubtedly fuel ongoing debates about how to deter state-sponsored acts of aggression. The report raises serious questions about accountability and the need for a robust international response to such blatant violations of international law.
First Piper 