Russia Expels Six British Diplomats Amid Espionage Accusations

Russia's Federal Security Service has accused six British diplomats of espionage and revoked their accreditation. They allegedly were involved in intelligence-gathering against Russia. This action comes shortly after the U.S. and UK pledged substantial aid to Ukraine, escalating tensions further.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on Friday accused six British diplomats of espionage activities and announced the revocation of their accreditation. Russian state TV reported that these diplomats will face expulsion.

The FSB claimed to have obtained documents indicating that the diplomats were deployed by a UK Foreign Office division with the aim of strategically weakening Russia through intelligence operations and other subversive activities.

This development follows the United States and Britain's recent pledge of nearly USD 1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, coinciding with renewed Ukrainian appeals to use Western missiles against targets deep inside Russia. The British Embassy in Moscow has yet to comment on these allegations.

(With inputs from agencies.)