World · 15 February 2026
What Is Frog Toxin Used in Navalny Killing?
Photo by Ian Murray on Unsplash
Five European nations, including the UK, have confirmed that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed with **epibatidine**, a lethal toxin found in Ecuadorian poison dart frogs. A joint intelligence inquiry revealed the poison, which causes paralysis and respiratory arrest, was identified in samples smuggled from Russia. Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, accused Vladimir Putin of using a "chemical weapon" to murder her husband, dismissing Moscow's claim of natural causes.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs