Written By Lisa Nyambura
Russia has expelled a British diplomat, accusing him of espionage and sabotage, according to reports from the state-run TASS news agency.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned the British ambassador to Moscow, with footage showing the envoy’s car arriving at the ministry.
The UK Foreign Office has yet to comment on the incident.
Russian state media reported that the Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed the diplomat had submitted false information in official documents and engaged in activities considered espionage.
His image was broadcast on Russian television. The diplomat reportedly replaced one of six UK diplomats expelled in August on similar charges.
This latest expulsion reflects the deteriorating relations between the UK and Russia, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The diplomatic standoff comes shortly after the UK lifted restrictions on Ukraine using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian territory, a move condemned by Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin cited the missile attacks, alongside U.S.-supplied longer-range weapons, as justification for launching a hypersonic missile at Ukraine’s Dnipro city last week.
Diplomatic expulsions have grown increasingly frequent amid the conflict, highlighting the deepening mistrust between Russia and Western nations.
Earlier this year, both London and Moscow exchanged expulsions over espionage accusations.
