Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were victims of a chemical attack orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the streets of Britain, shared their initial reaction to the incident. They initially found it amusing as they experienced twitching in their eyes. The pair detailed their harrowing experience in statements submitted to the official inquiry into the poisonings.

Skripal, a double agent who provided intelligence to MI6, and his daughter Yulia were exposed to the deadly nerve agent Novichok on March 4, 2018, in Salisbury. The inquiry revealed that they were vulnerable targets, described as ‘sitting ducks,’ during the attack at Skripal’s residence where the nerve agent was applied to the doorknob.

Following the poisoning, a substantial counter-terror police operation, involving 180 chemical warfare defense and contamination experts, was launched. The symptoms first manifested while the Skripals were dining at Zizzi, an Italian restaurant chain in Salisbury. Yulia, who had recently arrived from Russia, recounted their initial amusement when their eyes started twitching, before their condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to severe symptoms such as breathlessness, hallucinations, and vomiting.

As they left the restaurant, the effects of the poison intensified, causing disorientation and hallucinations for both Skripal and Yulia. They sought refuge at a bench near the Sainsbury’s car park, where they experienced surreal visual distortions akin to being under the influence of drugs like LSD or amphetamines. Yulia, in particular, lost consciousness quickly, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The Skripals spent three weeks in comas, with Mr. Skripal recalling the disorienting experience of waking up after what felt like a single day but turned out to be 21 days. Their recovery was arduous, leading them to live in hiding since the incident. The poisoning was believed to be orchestrated by Russian operatives, disguised as tourists, who administered the nerve agent, resulting in a widespread investigation and international scrutiny.

The inquiry, led by Justice Lord Hughes of Ombersley and named after Dawn Sturgess, the sole fatality linked to the poisonings, uncovered critical details about the attack. The tragic death of Sturgess, who succumbed to Novichok exposure after spraying herself with the agent, added to the gravity of the situation and raised suspicions about Russian involvement.

Lord Hughes, taking precautions to safeguard the Skripals’ location, prohibited their direct or remote testimony in the inquiry. The impending verdict of the inquiry, scheduled for next month, will shed further light on the case. The incident underscored the risks faced by individuals involved in espionage activities and highlighted the need for enhanced security measures to prevent such attacks in the future.