In March 2018, the world was shocked by the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England. The Skripals were found unconscious on a public bench, victims of the nerve agent Novichok, leading to an international uproar. The UK government quickly pointed fingers at Russia, accusing it of orchestrating the attack, which Moscow vehemently denied. The incident escalated tensions between Russia and the West, resulting in diplomatic expulsions and sanctions. The Skripals survived after weeks of critical care, but the event left a lasting mark on international relations and raised serious concerns about the use of chemical weapons on foreign soil.
