Moscow capable of second Salisbury-style poisoning that could kill thousands in UK, Defence Secretary warns

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visits Tapa Barracks, Estonia in December 2020

Credit:  Pippa Fowles/No10 Downing Street

Moscow is capable of carrying out a second Salisbury-style poisoning that could kill thousands of people in the UK, the Defence Secretary has warned. 

Ben Wallace told The Telegraph that Russia was displaying “concerning” behaviour, following a recent increase in Russian activity in British waters and skies. 

Mr Wallace said the UK wanted a relationship “with Russian people” but cautioned that this was not made easy due to the Russian government having “used nerve agent on the streets of England”. 

“I mean that is a quite an extraordinary thing to do in this day and age,” he said

“That type of nerve agent delivered differently could kill thousands of people.” 

He added that it was “not long ago that the leader of the opposition of (Alexei) Navalni was poisoned with what looks like Novichok,” as he said it was “perfectly legitimate that NATO as a whole ask questions of Russia”. 

Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and prominent Kremlin critic, being transferred to hospital after suspected Novichok poisoning in August

Credit: ODD ANDERSEN /AFP

Mr Wallace made his comments during a trip visiting British troops at Tapa Camp, Estonia. 

Around 900 personnel were deployed there in 2017 as part of Operation Cabrit, part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic region to protect against adversaries. 

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that in recent weeks the Royal Navy monitored nine Russian vessels around the UK.

Mr Wallace added the UK has seen “more incursions in the air since 2009, than we’ve ever had”. 

He added: “Russian behaviour is not within the norms it used to be. I think we would always urge them to improve the relationships and comply with the international rule of law and make sure we go back to a good relationship.”