Starmer: Britain must be ready to stand up to this 'brutal' regime

KEIR Starmer called for vigilance in the wake of the Dawn Sturgess report, as sweeping sanctions against Russia were announced.

- BY DAVE BURKE Political Correspondent

The government named 11 Kremlin operatives and announced that the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency, is sanctioned in its entirety.

Mr Starmer said: “The UK will always stand up to Putin's brutal regime and call out his murderous machine for what it is.”

Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin was summoned to the Foreign Office.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The life of a British citizen was lost and others were put dangerously at risk on British soil as a direct result of deliberate heinous decisions by President Putin and the GRU.”

She continued: “Putin and his GRU agents are an active threat to Britain's citizens, our security and our prosperity.

“We will not tolerate this brazen and despicable aggression on British soil.

“That is why we are exposing and sanctioning those carrying out malign acts for Moscow and ramping up efforts to crush hostile Russian activity.”