Information
Russia has announced the expulsion of a British diplomat and the spouse of another diplomat, accusing them of “intelligence and subversive work.” The Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that the two individuals had been stripped of their accreditation and must leave Russia within two weeks. This move is seen as part of an ongoing tit-for-tat escalation between the UK and Russia, with the UK Foreign Office dismissing the accusations as malicious and baseless. This latest expulsion follows a series of similar actions, including the UK’s expulsion of a Russian diplomat last month in response to Moscow’s expulsion of a British diplomat in November 2024.
Relations between the UK and Russia have reached new lows since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with seven British diplomats expelled from Russia in the past year alone on espionage charges, which the UK denies. The recent expulsions are the first since Russia and the US held talks on restoring relations last month. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has maintained strong support for Ukraine, pledging increased defence spending and advocating for a coalition to deter further Russian aggression. Moscow has criticized the UK’s stance and the idea of a foreign peacekeeping mission.
Source: BBC, Reuters
So what
While this is not unsurprising, this is just another sign that we are in a new cold war. Though it is possible that these individuals are not involved in intelligence activities in Russia, it is likely their expulsion was targeted for some reason, likely with the intent of disrupting operations at the UK embassy, whether that be intelligence operations or something else. Due to this, the UK will likely make a similar move, making one or two Russian diplomats persona non grata, as is the way with these kinds of battles. Though this move is possibly damaging in the short term, it is unlikely to have a significant effect in the medium to long term.
Follow us to join the intelligence community!