TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION

October 2014

Maj Gen Denis Sergeev goes to the Czech Republic with his fellow GRU operatives Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin, where they are suspected of detonating an explosion at an arms storage depot in a forest, killing two workers.

April 2015

Emilian Gebrev, a Bulgarian arms dealer, and his son fall ill in Sofia after being poisoned by an unidentified substance. Initially it is thought to be a case of food poisoning but Bulgarian prosecutors later charge Sergeev and two others.

March 2018

Sergeev takes charge of the operation to assassinate the former Russian spy Col Sergei Skripal in Salisbury using the nerve agent Novichok.

Friday March 2, 11am

Sergeev travels from Moscow to Heathrow, landing at 11am, and makes his way to a central London hotel.

3pm

Chepiga and Mishkin land at Gatwick and travel to a low-cost hotel in east London.

Saturday March 3, midday

Sergeev meets his two colleagues close to Waterloo station before Chepiga and Mishkin travel by train to Salisbury for a reconnaissance operation.

4pm

The three spies meet again in central London to discuss final preparations for the poisoning the following day.

Sunday March 4, 8am

Chepiga and Mishkin travel by train to Salisbury, where they smear Novichok on Skripal’s door handle. Meanwhile, Sergeev remains in London.

1.45pm

Sergeev catches a flight from Heathrow to Moscow, while his colleagues return from Salisbury and board the 10.30pm flight.

September 5 2018

Scotland Yard announces that there is enough evidence to charge Chepiga and Mishkin with seven offences including conspiracy to murder and attempted murder.