Additional Coverage:
British Diplomat Expelled from Russia Amid Worsening Tensions
MOSCOW – A British diplomat was expelled from Russia on Thursday, accused by Moscow of being an MI6 spy, a move that further escalates the already strained relationship between the two nations. The British Foreign Office has stated it is “carefully considering” its response, calling the accusation “baseless.”
The unnamed diplomat, stationed at the British Embassy in Moscow, has been given 14 days to leave Russia, with his accreditation revoked. Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion, also summoning British Charge d’Affaires Danae Dholakia for an explanation.
“Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory,” the ministry declared in a statement. Dholakia was reportedly warned that Russia intends to “continue to implement a line of zero-compromise on this issue” to protect its national interests.
A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office countered, describing the incident as yet another instance of Moscow leveling “malicious and baseless accusations against our staff.” The spokesperson added, “Their targeting of British diplomats comes out of desperation and actions like this undermine the basic conditions required for diplomatic missions to operate.”
This expulsion marks the latest in a series of retaliatory actions between Russia and the United Kingdom, whose relations have sharply deteriorated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Britain has emerged as a significant diplomatic, military, and economic supporter of Ukraine.
Previous incidents include Moscow’s expulsion of two British officials in March 2025, also on espionage charges, following the British government’s expulsion of an “undeclared Russian agent” and the stripping of diplomatic protection from Russian-owned real estate in May 2024.