Russia Orders British Diplomat to Leave Amid Fresh Espionage Accusations

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Russian authorities on Thursday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country, accusing the individual of engaging in espionage on behalf of the United Kingdom, the latest episode in a long-running cycle of diplomatic expulsions between Moscow and Western governments.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said the diplomat, described only as a member of the British Embassy staff, had been involved in intelligence-gathering activities incompatible with diplomatic status. The agency alleged the individual was working for British intelligence services but did not publicly present evidence to support the claim.

The Foreign Ministry said the diplomat’s accreditation had been revoked and that the individual must depart Russia within two weeks. In a formal step underscoring the seriousness of the accusation, the ministry summoned the United Kingdom’s charge d’affaires in Moscow, Danae Dholakia, to its headquarters to deliver the notification.

“Moscow will not tolerate the work of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that Russia reserved the right to respond proportionally to any retaliatory measures taken by London.

British officials did not immediately comment on the expulsion, leaving unclear whether the United Kingdom would respond with a reciprocal move, as has often been the case in similar disputes.

The incident comes amid deeply strained relations between Russia and NATO member states, which have deteriorated sharply since the Kremlin launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Moscow and Western capitals have repeatedly expelled each other’s diplomats, frequently citing espionage or activities deemed incompatible with diplomatic roles.

Russia has previously taken similar action against British diplomatic staff. In March 2025, Moscow expelled two British diplomats stationed in the capital, also accusing them of spying. At the time, the British government rejected the allegations, calling them “malicious and baseless,” and warned that Russia’s actions would further damage already frayed bilateral relations.

The latest expulsion reflects the broader collapse of trust between Russia and Western governments, where intelligence accusations have become a routine feature of diplomatic confrontation. Analysts say such moves are often as much political signals as security measures, intended to demonstrate resolve at a time when formal channels of cooperation have largely broken down.

With communication between Moscow and London at a low ebb, the order for the diplomat to leave underscores how little room remains for de-escalation in relations that now resemble Cold War-era hostility, marked by tit-for-tat measures and public recriminations rather than quiet diplomacy.