Imagine waking up to find out that not only have you been under 24-hour surveillance in hospital in a critical condition for weeks, but also that you’re at the centre of an international diplomatic storm?
All Yulia Skripal, 33, expected to do that day was have a cheap Italian meal out with her dad in Wiltshire.
Not that her dad was any ordinary employee. Sergei Skripal, and ex-Russian spy, was believed to have begun freelancing as a private investigator before he was poisoned with nerve agent novichok in March.
The UK government believe that the Kremlin was behind the attack – something Russian officials in Moscow strenuously deny. Since then, there’s been a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats between the nations, and western nations who ousted Russian officials in solidarity with Britain.
Sergei, 66, remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. However Yulia has since woken up.
This is what she had to say in her first – no doubt pretty confusing – first statement, made to the London Metropolitan Police:
‘I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received.
‘I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when my father and I were incapacitated. Further than that, I would like to thank the staff at Salisbury District Hospital for their care and professionalism.
‘I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.’
Her first statement since the poisoning was released hours after Russia TV aired a recording of an alleged phone conversation it claims took place between Yulia and her cousin, Viktoria.
They allege that she told Viktoria: 'Everything is ok. He [her father] is resting now, having a sleep. Everyone's health is fine, there are no irreparable things. I will be discharged soon. Everything is ok.'
Wait until she finds out about that Russian interview.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.