Russia has expelled a British diplomat and the spouse of another after accusing the pair of engaging in intelligence activity in Moscow.
The pair were ordered to leave Russia within two weeks after Moscow claimed they had used the embassy as cover.
In a statement, Moscow’s Federal Security Service said: “The Federal Security Service’s counter-intelligence operations exposed the unreported intelligence presence of the United Kingdom under the cover of the country’s embassy in Moscow.”
However, the latest explusion comes just days after a Russian spy ring was foiled in the UK.
A Russian police officer patrols outside the British embassy building in Moscow
GETTY
A major crime investigation left six members of a Russian proxy spy ring facing years behind bars.
The group, dubbed the “Minions”, were part of the “largest and most complex” enemy operations to be uncovered on British soil.
Bulgarian nationals Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were found guilty at the Old Bailey last week.
The trio, alongside the group’s 47-year-old ringleader Orlin Roussev and allies Biser Dzhambazov, 43, and Ivan Stoyanov, 33, admitted their roles.
Vladimir PutinGettyThe Foreign Office had also stripped a Russian diplomat of their accreditation last month.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy defended the decision by saying that the UK will be “unapologetic” in standing up against Vladimir Putin.
The move was in response to what the Foreign Office said was a “baseless” decision to expel a British diplomat from Russia on suspicion of spying in November last year.
Russia has expelled seven British diplomats in the past 12 months over espionage allegations.
The arrest of spy chief Orlin Roussev in Great YarmouthPAThe UK has denied the allegations made by the Kremlin, labelling them as “malicious and baseless”.
However, the latest expulsions appear to be the first Moscow has slapped on the West since Russia entered so-called peace talks last month.
Sir Keir Starmer appears to have further strained Anglo-Russian relations after voicing resolute support for Ukraine.
Downing Street said the latest expulsions were “what we have come to expect from President Putin and his regime” and “the allegations are no doubt baseless”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It won’t distract us from our focus on supporting Ukraine and putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position over the days and weeks ahead.”