Russia's FSB Explains Reasons For Revocation Of Six British Diplomats Of Accreditation In Moscow

Illustration. (Unsplash/Tetiana SHYSHKINA)

Six UK embassy employees in Moscow have been withdrawn for involvement in intelligence and subversive activities that are not in accordance with their diplomatic status, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) press office said.

"The Russian Federal Security Service has received documentary material confirming London's coordination of the escalation of international military-political situation," the press office said.

"The documents show that in the UK, the main unit coordinating subversive activities towards Russia (and in former Soviet Union countries) is the Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia from the British Foreign Office, which after the start of special military operations in Ukraine was converted into special services whose main task is to cause strategic defeat in our country," the press office said.

"Based on the documents provided by the FSB, as well as in response to various unfriendly steps from London, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with relevant agencies, halting the accreditation of six employees of the British Embassy's political department in Moscow. FSB detects signs of intelligence and subversive activity in their work," the FSB said.

"The revealed facts provide a basis for considering the activities of British diplomats sent to Moscow by the Directorate as a threat to Russia's security," the press office added.

Separately, Britain said the eviction took place last month and described the allegations as "completely baseless," quoted by CNN.

Diplomats left Russia a few weeks ago, and the British government is in the process of replacing it.

"The allegations made today by the FSB against our staff are completely baseless," the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

"We do not apologize for protecting our national interests," he added.

Russia announced the expulsion hours before talks in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden, an important move to win the green light for Kyiv to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia.