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UK to Deploy Over 190 Servicemen for Decontamination in Salisbury - Military

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has pledged to deploy 192 service personnel to assist in decontaminating potentially affected sites in the UK town of Salisbury after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
Sputnik

In mid-March, London accused Moscow of alleged involvement in poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the A234 nerve agent. Russia has refuted all the allegations. On Tuesday, London said that cleanup work was underway in the UK town to decontaminate sites that could have been potentially affected by a substance used to poison the Skripals. In turn, the Russian side has voiced concerns that these activities could be an attempt to destroy evidence.

The press service of the UK Defense Ministry said citing Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson that 192 service personnel will help with the decontamination effort in Salisbury.

According to the ministry, Williamson has also stressed that the United Kingdom was enhancing its deterrence and defense capabilities in order to "prevent Russian aggression."

READ MORE: 'Another Russophobic Campaign' Adds to UK Government's New 'Project Fear'

The so-called Salisbury incident has already resulted in deterioration of relations between Russia and its Western partners, especially with the United Kingdom. Following the incident, over 25 countries expelled Russian diplomats siding with London’s claims of Moscow’s involvement in the incident. Russia has responded by expelling the same numbers of diplomats.

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