British Diplomat Expelled From Moscow Embassy Over Spying Claims

Russia’s Federal Security Service, known by its Russian acronym FSB, claimed that embassy staff were working for British intelligence. He did not provide evidence.

In the statement made by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that the diplomat’s accreditation was canceled and the person must leave the country within two weeks. Britain’s chargé d’affaires in Russia, Danae Dholakia, was summoned to the ministry’s Moscow headquarters to receive the notification.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said, “Moscow will not tolerate unidentified British intelligence officers working in Russia.” He also stated that he would respond in kind to any steps taken by London on the issue.

There was no immediate reaction from the British government on the issue.

Russia and its NATO allies have carried out several mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations plummeted to their lowest levels since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow had previously expelled two British diplomats in Moscow in March 2025 due to espionage allegations. The United Kingdom described these accusations as “malicious and unfounded”.