Putin has already deployed a chemical weapon. In Salisbury

Russia also assassinated a person in Berlin a few years ago [1]. I remember being baffled at the time at the absolute lack of consequences emerging from that episode.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelimkhan_Khangoshvili

That wasn't much of a weapon. Weapons-grade nerve agents should be able to kill hundreds of victims in the area, very fast and efficient. How many died or were affected? How many went into the area while being unprotected?

Photo in article shows unprotected firemen near hazmat suited workers. Those firemen would have died within a minute if there really was a 'weapons-grade nerve agent' present. - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43798068

We've been hearing about Russian capabilities for years now. They've affected elections, they've hacked sensitive secrets, they're poisoned people and brought down gas pipelines. No evidence was offered but it wasn't needed cuz Russia BAD etc, right?

Now Russia has need for all these capabilities and .. they're apparently not there? Were they ever? Has the "Russia" of western media obsession ever existed? Or has the obsession with the "Great Satan" enemy kept us from seeing what's actually there?

This is one of those articles that stretches my credulity radar. It's the Guardian - a respected (left leaning) UK newspaper. They will have more than one source etc.

But, meeting ex-KGB agents, alone, when a minister, just should be such a "don't do that", it's barely credible