Vladimir Putin expels two Brits accused of spying from Moscow embassy
Vladimir Putin has expelled two British nationals on suspicion of espionage.
The pair were accused of “intelligence and subversive activities that threaten Russia’s security“, according to state news outlets. The Brits are said to be a man and a woman, who are 34 and 32 years old respectively.
The FSB said they “intentionally provided false information when receiving permission to enter our country, thereby violating Russian law”. The security service also “identified signs of intelligence and subversive work by the said diplomats that threatens the security of the Russian Federation”, reported Interfax. “Both will be stripped of their accreditation and must leave Russia within two weeks,” said the Russian defence ministry’s news outlet, Zvezda.
After being informed of the expulsions, a senior British diplomat was reportedly seen entering and leaving the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow. According to Meduza, the FSB believes that the employee “replaced one of six British intelligence officers” previously expelled from Russia.
The British embassy in Moscow dismissed the spying allegations, according to the Russian media.
“This is not the first time that the Russian authorities have made unfounded and malicious allegations against our employees,” RBC news outlet quoted an embassy official as saying. “We will respond accordingly.”
The Russian foreign ministry urged Britain not to announce tit for tat expulsions. “It was once again emphasised that Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory and that Russia’s uncompromising line on this issue will be formulated in accordance with the interests of national security,” said the ministry.
“British citizens are strongly advised to provide only reliable and complete information about themselves when applying for a Russian visa. A warning was also made that if London escalates the situation, the Russian side will give a decisive ‘mirror’ response.”
Ambassador Nigel Casey has seen his staff reduced amid expulsions at a time when Russia is portraying the UK as being at the forefront of seeking to keep the war going in Ukraine. In September 2024, the accreditation of six diplomats was terminated, and in November, a second secretary of the British embassy’s department was ordered to leave Russia.
The UK Foreign Office said: “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff.”
It comes just days after a spy ring was convicted of one of the most complex Russian spy operations to be uncovered on UK soil. Bulgarians Vanya Gaberova, 30, Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, and Katrin Ivanova, 33, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of their part in the elaborate plot – which involved surveillance of people and places on Russia’s target list. These included journalists as well as a US military base in Germany with members of the group traveling across Europe from their base in the UK.
Messages detailing their plans were found on their phones by police and included kidnap plots and plans to kill some targets. There were also plans to entrap targets via so-called honeytraps.
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories