Salisbury Novichok Attack Russia Spy Boss Dead After ‘long And Serious’ Illness express.co.uk

Colonel-General Igor Korobov, the man responsible for coordinating the response to the Salisbury spy poisoning in March this year, has died. The 63-year-old was said to have suddenly fallen ill after a stern confrontation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The dressing down from Putin was said to be over the “deep incompetence” shown in the Salisbury poisonings and other operations.
Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that Igor Korobov, head of the GRU, died, according to the Kremlin-backed news agency TASS.

The ministry said in a statement: "The leadership of the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inform with great sadness that on 21 November 2018, after a serious and long illness, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich passed away at the age of 63.

"The memory of a wonderful person, a true son of Russia, a patriot of the Fatherland Colonel
General Korobob Igor Valentinovich will forever remain in our hearts. We express condolences to his family and friends."

Igor Korobov held the position of Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation after an eminent career in the military.
The spy’s predecessor, Igor Sergun, suddenly died in January 2016, with Russian media explaining the “circumstances surrounding his death were unclear”.

The news of Korobov’s sudden death comes after two GRU heavies were exposed by investigative journalists, Bellingcat.

The identities of the two men who travelled to Salisbury for the botched poisoning attempt were revealed as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

The men, who claimed they were visiting the “wonderful” English city of Salisbury for its impressive cathedral, gave an extraordinary account to Russian state media, claiming they had decided to leave the city due to snow and slush.