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Colonel-General Igor Korobov, the man responsible for coordinating the response to the Salisbury spy poisoning in March this year, has died. The 63-year-old was said to have suddenly fallen ill after a stern confrontation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The dressing down from Putin was said to be over the “deep incompetence” shown in the Salisbury poisonings and other operations.

Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that Igor Korobov, head of the GRU, died, according to the Kremlin-backed news agency TASS. The ministry said in a statement: "The leadership of the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inform with great sadness that on 21 November 2018, after a serious and long illness, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich passed away at the age of 63. "The memory of a wonderful person, a true son of Russia, a patriot of the Fatherland Colonel General Korobob Igor Valentinovich will forever remain in our hearts. We express condolences to his family and friends." Igor Korobov held the position of Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation after an eminent career in the military. READ MORE: Vladimir Putin fires CHILLING warning to EU

The Russian spy master blamed for the Salisbury Novichok attack has died

The two spies caught on CCTV in Salisbury

Novichok spies (L) Alexander Petrov, (R) Ruslan Boshirov were exposed by investigative journalists

The spy’s predecessor, Igor Sergun, suddenly died in January 2016, with Russian media explaining the “circumstances surrounding his death were unclear”. The news of Korobov’s sudden death comes after two GRU heavies were exposed by investigative journalists, Bellingcat. The identities of the two men who travelled to Salisbury for the botched poisoning attempt were revealed as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. The men, who claimed they were visiting the “wonderful” English city of Salisbury for its impressive cathedral, gave an extraordinary account to Russian state media, claiming they had decided to leave the city due to snow and slush.

A man and woman fell ill in Salisbury after being exposed to the Novichok nerve agent in July

It later emerged they had been complicit in the failed assassination attempt of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Those in charge of the catastrophic blunder were denounced for their “deep incompetence” and “infinite carelessness" during a Moscow meeting. They were taunted “Why didn’t you just wear Budenovka hats?” in reference to the Communist military uniform adopted after the Russian Revolution. Explosive revelations of Putin’s fury were disclosed by Russian journalist Sergey Kanev.

Police tape is seen in front of Salisbury cathedral when the city was on lock down

Mr Kanev - who now lives in self-imposed exile for fear of arrest in Russia - is noted for his secret service contacts. Shortly after the Putin blasting, Mr Kanev predicted the crisis would lead to major sackings within the GRU. He said: “It is quite likely Korobov will be fired before the end of this year and that Leningrad (St Petersburg) born General Sergey Gizunov will take his post. “Gizunov is called ‘eyes and ears’ of Vladimir Putin in military intelligence.”

Emergency workers in protective suits scoured for signs of remaining Novichok after the attack

In a separate development, it emerged Russian spooks were expelled from Holland in April after they attempted to hack into the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW, which was looking into the Salisbury nerve agent attack. The spies were found with cyber-hacking equipment in the back of their car. In March this year both Sergei and Yulia Skripal fell ill after they were exposed to the nerve agent Novichok. Mr Skripal is a former Russian double agent and the UK - supported by western backers - was quick to assign the blame for the attack on Russia.

Yulia Skripal escaped from the Novichok ordeal physically unscathed