Putin allegedly approved Novichok poisonings, senior officials say

“So to use a nerve agent that is completely prohibited by international convention, even to be possessed, let alone used, to then go to a capable actor like Britain with an effective law enforcement system, a permanent member of the Security Council, a NATO country, the risks involved are so enormous in terms of reputation that I believe that this could not have been done at the level of the head of the GRU, or even its boss, namely the Minister of Defense.