Russia expels British diplomat over espionage claims, reports say
Moscow calls in the British ambassador regarding accusations of espionage.
Reports indicate that Russia has removed a British diplomat, claiming he was involved in spying activities.
The Tass news agency reported that Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, announced that the ministry had also called in the British ambassador.
Video footage captures the British ambassador's vehicle arriving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.
A representative from the Foreign Office stated, "Russia has previously leveled harmful and unfounded claims against our personnel. We will address this matter in due time."
According to reports from state news agencies, the country's FSB security service has claimed that the diplomat, whose picture was displayed on television broadcasts, provided incorrect information in his documents and engaged in espionage and sabotage activities.
It mentioned that the diplomat was brought in to take the place of one of the six British diplomats who were expelled in August due to similar allegations of spying.
This development occurs against the backdrop of deteriorating ties between the UK and Russia, a trend that has intensified since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last week, it was revealed that the UK has removed the limits on Ukraine's use of British-provided Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets within Russia for the first time.
President Vladimir Putin pointed to this action, along with the use of longer-range missiles provided by the US targeting Russian territory, as the reasons for Russia's choice to fire a new hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday.
Since the start of the war, the expulsion of diplomats has become more frequent.
Earlier this year, British diplomat Captain Adrian Coghill was ordered to leave Russia within a week, just days after the Russian defense attaché was kicked out of London for suspected spying, being labeled as an "undeclared military intelligence officer."
