And the brazenness of it fits with what I have said - We can get away with this anywhere, you are not safe.
Spies have been killing people for millenia, and the KGB (now FSB) and GRU are particularly good at it. John Barron's book on the KGB from the 70s literally had a list of a few hundred known KGB officers at the back before the index, they all know each other to at least some degree (They'll suss you out the moment you are deployed to a foreign embassy).
> What that aspect is, who knows. But it is probably there.
Like what? Maybe they poisoned themselves with Novichok for a laugh, but it's unlikely. Remember that a lot of Russian money passes through the British ruling party and London so it's not really in their interest to ratfuck
I don't think individual FSB agents whom skripal blew the cover of give a fuck about this but I'm certain Putin does.
If they can get anyone, any time ... why pick someone irrelevant? Why not get someone where it is in their interests for them to die?
That is a really bad motive. All they are doing is tipping their operational methods and compromising the identity of their assassins. Plus it costs money and is risky.
Either the Russians are really stupid or there is some aspect of the story that isn't public. What that aspect is, who knows. But it is probably there.