Putin’s 6-word rage as Ukraine ‘kills’ Salisbury poisoning mastermind | World | News
Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning after Ukraine killed a top intelligence general believed responsible for the Salisbury novichok poisoning. Kiev’s special forces achieved a stunning military success on Friday when their drones crashed into an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s stay-behind fleet, causing serious damage.
While the Qendil ship was sailing in the waters off Libya’s Mediterranean coast, it turned into a ball of fire after the attack. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) claimed responsibility for what they described as a “new, unprecedented special operation”. This marks the first time a Russian tanker has been hit in neutral waters; There have been attacks against the shadow fleet in the Black Sea before.
Unconfirmed reports also claim that top Russian military intelligence (GRU) general Andrey Averyanov was on the ship when the Qendil was hit and died in the attack.
Commenting on the attack, a furious Vladimir Putin told a television audience on Friday: “Russia will definitely respond.”
Averyanov, 60, is widely known as the former commander of GRU Unit 29155.
The secret cell is suspected of being behind a series of assassinations, bombings and sabotage campaigns across Europe on behalf of the Kremlin.
This includes the failed attempt in 2018 to kill former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal using the deadly nerve agent Novichok.
The poisoning caused both victims to become critically ill, but they later recovered. But Dawn Sturgess was not so lucky and died after encountering poison thrown into the bin.
The news of Averyanov’s alleged death was published on the Telegram channel by a pro-Ukrainian blogger.
“According to preliminary information [unconfirmed] According to the data, GRU General Andrey Averyanov was allegedly eliminated along with the ship along with several of his deputies.
UK police and intelligence services concluded that the attack was carried out by GRU officers operating under false identities.
According to Ukrainian reports, Averyanov frequently travels around Europe on shadow fleet ships while carrying out secret missions.
