Russia has expelled two British diplomats stationed at the UK embassy in Moscow, accusing them of espionage. The UK has strongly denied the claims, calling them “malicious and baseless.” This latest diplomatic action further escalates tensions between the two nations.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that the two diplomats had provided false personal information upon entering the country and were involved in intelligence and subversive activities that posed a threat to national security. However, the FSB did not provide any concrete evidence to support these allegations.
According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the diplomats’ accreditations have been revoked, and they have been ordered to leave the country within two weeks. The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned a British embassy official, warning that Moscow “will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory.”
UK’s Response
The British Foreign Office swiftly rejected Russia’s accusations, stating, “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff.” However, London has not yet indicated whether it will take any retaliatory action in response to the expulsions.
This incident follows a series of similar diplomatic actions. Last year, the FSB accused seven British diplomats of spying, leading to the expulsion of six in September and another in November. The UK had previously condemned those expulsions as “baseless.”
Rising Diplomatic Tensions
The diplomatic standoff comes amid heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine. The UK has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, imposing sanctions on Russia and providing military aid to Kyiv. In response, Moscow has increasingly targeted Western diplomats, accusing them of espionage and interfering in Russian affairs.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, diplomatic expulsions have become routine. According to Russian media outlet RBC, between early 2022 and October 2023, Western countries and Japan expelled approximately 670 Russian diplomats, while Russia retaliated by expelling 346 Western diplomats. The scale of these actions is reportedly higher than in the previous 20 years combined.
The latest move by Moscow signals a continued deterioration in UK-Russia relations, with both nations locked in a cycle of retaliatory measures and escalating diplomatic disputes.
