Novichok Inventor Mysteriously Dies After Infuriating Putin

Key Points:

• Vladimir Uglev, a Russian scientist who helped develop the Novichok nerve agent, has died at age 80, according to The Insider, with no cause of death disclosed.
• Uglev publicly condemned the Kremlin's use of Novichok, particularly in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, calling it a "state-level hit."
• He collaborated with investigative journalists to expose the production and use of Novichok by Russian intelligence agencies and was an outspoken critic of its deployment against civilians, including in the cases of Skripal and opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
• After speaking out, Uglev faced harassment including false accusations, a suspicious car accident causing injuries, and threats, though he maintained that fear must be controlled.
• Uglev continued working as a chemical engineer in Russia until his death on October 26, leaving a legacy as a rare insider who challenged the Kremlin’s narrative on chemical weapons.