On Friday, September 13, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the expulsion of six British diplomats from Moscow, accusing them of espionage and subversive activities.
The FSB claims to have documents suggesting that the British Foreign Office department responsible for Eastern Europe and Central Asia was involved in efforts to ensure Russia's strategic defeat in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to the FSB, the documents indicate that London was coordinating the escalation of the international military-political situation, which the Russian intelligence agency views as a threat to Russia's national security.
"In response to these findings and London's numerous unfriendly actions, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in coordination with relevant agencies, has revoked the accreditation of six British Embassy employees," the FSB stated, as cites by United24 Media.
Russian state television channel Rossiya-24 later revealed the names and photos of the expelled diplomats, identifying them as Jessica Davenport, Grace Elvin, Andrew Daft Callum, Catherine Macdonald, Thomas John Hickson, and Blake Patell. The FSB warned that if similar activities are discovered, more British diplomats may be asked to leave.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova added that the actions of the British Embassy in Moscow had "far exceeded" diplomatic norms and accused the diplomats of deliberately working against Russian interests.
This latest move comes as tensions between Russia and Western nations remain high following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which led to the expulsion of around 600 Russian diplomats across Europe, with approximately 400 suspected of being intelligence officers.
