Skripal’s heartache

Russian poison target can’t visit wife’s grave

NOVICHOK victim Sergei Skripal is “heartbroken” at not visiting his wife’s grave on what would have been her 66th birthday.

Skripal, 67, used to regularly tend the plots of wife Liudmila and son Alexandr in Salisbury, said a friend.

But the ex-spy and daughter Yulia, 33, have been in hiding since leaving hospital after a bid by Russian agents to kill them last March failed. The novichok attack led to the death of mum-of-three Dawn Sturgess.

Liudmila, who would have been 66 last Friday, died of cancer in 2012 after moving to the UK in 2010. Alexander died aged 43 two years ago in St Petersburg, in unknown circumstances. A friend said: “Sergei loved spending time with his loved ones – he’ll be heartbroken he can’t go back.”