Russia Expels Six British Diplomats Amid Escalating Tensions

Russia Expels Six British Diplomats Amid Heightened Tensions

On Friday, Russia announced its decision to expel six British diplomats, accusing them of engaging in espionage and sabotage activities. This move underscores the escalating tensions between Moscow and London, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Russian Federal Security Service, known as the F.S.B., stated that the expulsion was a response to the “numerous unfriendly steps taken by London.” This remark seems to refer to indications from the British government that it might permit Ukraine to deploy its “Storm Shadow” long-range missiles against targets deep within Russian territory.

Addressing the potential implications of such a shift, President Vladimir V. Putin warned on Thursday that if NATO countries provided Ukraine with these missiles, it would signify that they were “at war with Russia.” He emphasized that this development would fundamentally alter “the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”

As discussions continued among President Biden and his Western allies regarding the potential risks and advantages of allowing Ukraine to utilize long-range missiles, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in Washington for his inaugural official visit as the leader of the United Kingdom.

The F.S.B., which is the principal successor to the Soviet-era K.G.B., revealed that the expelled diplomats had been dispatched to Russia by the British Foreign Service Directorate responsible for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The agency claimed that since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, this directorate had transformed into “a special service, whose main task is to inflict a strategic defeat” on Russia.

According to the F.S.B., the actions of the six diplomats posed a “threat” to Russia’s national security, with “signs of spying and sabotage” detected in their activities. The agency stated, “The revealed facts give grounds to consider the activities of British diplomats sent to Moscow through the directorate as threatening the security of the Russian Federation.”

The British Foreign Office quickly dismissed the accusations of espionage, labeling the claims as “baseless.” In response, Maria V. Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed support for the F.S.B.’s decision, asserting that the expelled diplomats had been involved in “subversive work aimed at harming” the Russian populace. Furthermore, she warned that additional British diplomats could face expulsion should they engage in similar activities in the future.

State television in Russia aired images of the six diplomats, identifying them, although their names have yet to be officially confirmed. Reports indicated that these diplomats had interacted with Russian civil society activists, raising further suspicions about their intentions.

Stephen Castle contributed reporting from London.