Russia expels six British diplomats as tensions rise over long-range missiles

In a statement on September 13, the FSB said it had documents showing that a British diplomatic department in London was coordinating "military-political escalation" and was tasked with ensuring Russia's strategic defeat in its war with Ukraine.

"This is the basis for considering the activities of British diplomats posted to Moscow as a threat to the security of the Russian Federation," the FSB said.

"Based on documents provided by the Russian Federal Security Service and in response to a number of unfriendly steps taken by London, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in coordination with relevant agencies, has terminated the accreditation of six members of the political department of the British Embassy in Moscow due to their activities showing signs of espionage and sabotage," the statement said.

British Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Reuters

The expelled British diplomats were named on Russian state television, along with their photographs. Surveillance footage of them was also released, including secret surveillance footage of a British diplomat meeting someone.

The FSB said British diplomats recruited Russian teenagers to incite and hold talks with opposition figures at the UK ambassador's residence in Moscow. British diplomats were also accused of trying to create divisions between different ethnic groups and migrants in Russian society.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the British embassy's activities in Moscow went far beyond the Vienna diplomatic conventions. "More importantly, this is not just a matter of formality and non-compliance with the declared activities, but of acts of sabotage aimed at harming our citizens," Zakharova said on Telegram.

The UK said Russia's accusations against its diplomats were baseless, saying the move was in response to the UK expelling Russia's defence attaché in May, forcing some Russian embassy officials to leave London ahead of schedule.

Russia's statement came hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met US President Joe Biden at the White House to push ahead with talks aimed at winning approval for Ukraine to use UK Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of more than 250km, against targets in Russia.

A Western source said a decision could be made at the United Nations General Assembly starting on September 24.

The New York Times quoted European officials as saying that the United States was likely to approve Ukraine's use of long-range missiles against targets in Russia on the condition that the weapons were not supplied by the United States.

Hoai Phuong (according to TASS, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-truc-xuat-6-nha-ngoai-giao-anh-khi-cang-thang-ve-ten-lua-tam-xa-gia-tang-post312349.html