Daughter of Russian spy Sergei Skripal is conscious and 'improving rapidly' after nerve agent attack

The daughter of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal has reportedly regained consciousness after being targeted in a nerve agent attack alongside her father more than three weeks ago.

Yulia Skripal was left critically ill after she and her father were exposed to Novichok on March 4 in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

But she is now said to be “improving rapidly”, with the BBC reporting that separate sources have verified the 33-year-old is both conscious and talking. Her father remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Scotland Yard has revealed that they believe Mr Skripal and his daughter, who was visiting him from Russia, first came into contact with the deadly chemical at his home after forensic testing revealed the highest concentration of the nerve agent was found on the front door.

Detectives said traces of the nerve agent had been found at some of the other scenes where investigations had been carried out, but at lower concentrations.

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Mr Skripal and his daughter have been patients at Salisbury District Hospital since they were found unconscious on a park bench close to The Maltings shopping centre in the town nearly four weeks ago.

Wiltshire Police Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was also exposed to the nerve agent, was discharged from the hospital last week.

The attack has sparked international repercussions, leading to tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats by the UK and Russia.