The UK has said it is “carefully considering” its response after Russia expelled a British diplomat from Moscow, accusing him of working as an undercover intelligence agent..reports Asian Lite News
The UK Foreign Office has said it is “carefully considering” how to respond after Russia expelled a British diplomat from its embassy in Moscow, accusing him of being an intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover. The decision, announced by Russia’s foreign ministry, underscores the fragile state of relations between London and Moscow and raises the prospect of further retaliatory measures between the two countries.
According to the Russian foreign ministry, the diplomat, who was not named publicly, has been stripped of his accreditation and ordered to leave the country within two weeks. The ministry said the individual had been declared persona non grata after being identified as an intelligence agent working undercover at the British embassy in the Russian capital. In addition, the statement said that Danae Dholakia, the British charge d’affaires in Moscow, had been summoned to the foreign ministry to be formally notified of the decision.
In a robust response, the UK government accused Moscow of acting out of “desperation” and said that “actions like this undermine the basic conditions required for diplomatic missions to operate”. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the allegations were unfounded and accused the Kremlin of repeatedly targeting British diplomatic staff with what it described as false claims.
Earlier, Russian officials warned that they would not tolerate what they described as “undeclared British intelligence officers” operating on Russian territory. Moscow said it reserved the right to take further action should London escalate the situation, language that suggests the possibility of additional expulsions or other diplomatic measures. The UK Foreign Office spokesperson responded by saying this was not the first time the Kremlin had made “malicious and baseless accusations against our staff”.
The expulsion is the latest episode in a series of tit-for-tat measures that have steadily eroded the already limited channels of engagement between the two countries. Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have deteriorated sharply in recent years, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, both sides have expelled multiple diplomats, reduced embassy staffing levels and sharply curtailed official contacts.
In March last year, Russia expelled two British officials over accusations of spying, claims that were rejected by London. At the time, the UK Foreign Office accused Moscow of making “malicious and baseless accusations” against its staff, language that has been repeated in response to the latest move. The UK government retaliated by revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse, saying it would “not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families”.
Diplomatic expulsions are a familiar tool in disputes between states, often used to signal displeasure or to apply pressure without severing relations entirely. However, analysts note that the frequency of such actions between the UK and Russia reflects the depth of mistrust that now characterises the relationship. Contacts that once existed in areas such as security cooperation, cultural exchange and trade have largely fallen away, leaving little scope for de-escalation when disputes arise.
The current confrontation also comes against a backdrop of heightened sensitivity around intelligence activities, with Western governments accusing Russia of conducting espionage and covert operations across Europe, and Moscow making similar claims about Nato countries. In this environment, accusations of spying are frequently used to justify expulsions, even when evidence is not made public.
For the UK, the decision on how to respond will involve balancing the need to defend its diplomatic staff against the risk of further escalation. Reciprocal expulsions are a common response, but they can further weaken embassies that are already operating with reduced personnel. British officials have previously argued that Russia’s actions are aimed at intimidating diplomats and restricting their ability to operate effectively.
Russia, for its part, has framed its actions as defensive measures designed to protect its national security. By warning that it will take further steps if the UK escalates, Moscow has signalled that it is prepared for a prolonged diplomatic standoff. The summoning of the British charge d’affaires is also a clear signal of displeasure and a formal demonstration of the seriousness with which Russia says it views the issue.
