Russia expels six British diplomats over spying

Russia has expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage and ‘subversive work’ aimed at destabilizing the country, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The FSB claims to have documents showing that the UK, particularly through its Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate (EECAD), has been coordinating an ‘escalation of the international military-political situation’ in order to bring about a ‘strategic defeat’ of Russia. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry has ‘terminated the accreditation of six employees of the political department of the British Embassy in Moscow, whose actions showed signs of intelligence and subversive work.’

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, backed the FSB’s allegations, asserting that British diplomats have been involved in actions detrimental to Russia. The UK has yet to respond to these claims. Diplomatic relations between Russia and the UK have significantly deteriorated since the start of the Ukraine conflict, with both sides engaging in tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats and imposing sanctions. In a related incident earlier this year, the FSB accused the British Council of gathering intelligence on behalf of Ukraine using ‘refugees.’