Head of Russian spy agency accused of British poison attack dies

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu presents a flag to Igor Korobov, chief of Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, formerly known as the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), during a ceremony in Moscow in this February 2, 2016 handout photo obtained by Reuters November 22, 2018. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The head of Russia's military intelligence agency that the West has blamed for a string of brazen attacks died on Wednesday after "a serious and long illness", the Russian defence ministry said on Thursday, hailing him as a "true son of Russia."

The Ministry of Defence heaped praise on Colonel-General Igor Korobov, 62, who had run the spy agency, best known as the GRU, since 2016, saying he had been made a Hero of Russia for his service in the post, the highest state award.