UK slams Russia over ‘completely baseless’ spy claims after Vlad expels 6 Brit diplomats from Moscow in tit-for-tat move
The UK slammed Russia's 'completely baseless' claims six British diplomats were spies amid mounting tensions with the Kremlin.
The tit-for-tat move comes after Vladimir Putin expelled the six officials from Moscow when the FSB accused them of spying and threatening Russia's security.
The UK Foreign Office dismissed the accusations as "baseless" and said it is "unapologetic about protecting our national interests".
A spokesperson said: "The accusations made today by the FSB against our staff are completely baseless.
"The Russian authorities revoked the diplomatic accreditation of six UK diplomats in Russia last month, following action taken by the UK government in response to Russian state-directed activity across Europe and in the UK.
"We are unapologetic about protecting our national interests."
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The diplomats - from the British Embassy’s political department - are thought to have left Russia early in September.
Russian state-run TV channel Zvezda - owned by the Defence Ministry - showed footage of the diplomats leaving Moscow, and directly alleged that they were “spies”.
“British embassy staff expelled from Russia turned out to be spies,” said the channel.
"Our special services found signs of intelligence and subversive work.”
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It comes as Britain is leading Western efforts to allow Ukraine to deploy long range missiles on targets deep inside Russia, starting with UK Storm Shadow missiles.
Putin warned last night that such a move would be seen as an act of war between Nato and Russia.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Joe Biden are meeting in Washington DC today for crunch talks on the missile debate.
Putin yesterday warned that granting permission for the Ukrainians to use British and French kit to pound targets deep within Russian territory would mean war.
He said: "This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict... It would mean that Nato countries are at war with Russia.”
The ageing despot made the comments to Russian state-controlled TV on Thursday.
Answering a question about the probable outcome, Putin added: "If that's the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face."
But plucky Sir Keir batted away the threat saying: “Russia started this conflict. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end this conflict straight away.
“Ukraine has the right to self defence, and obviously we've been absolutely fully supportive of Ukraine's right to self defence, providing training capabilities.
"But we don't seek any conflict with Russia, that's not our intention in the slightest. But they started this conflict, and Ukraine's got a right to self defence.”
State news agency TASS said of the diplomats: “The FSB stated that it has received documentary materials that confirm the coordination of the escalation of the international military-political situation by Great Britain.
It said "the British Foreign Office Eastern Europe Directorate... has been turned into a special service for inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia."
The six diplomats left Russia weeks ago and are already being replaced, PA reports.
The FSB statement said: "The Russian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with interested departments, terminated the accreditation of six employees of the political department of the British Embassy in Moscow, in whose actions signs of intelligence and subversive work were found."
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It added: "Subsequently, if similar actions are detected among employees of the British diplomatic mission, the FSB of Russia will demand early termination of their missions in the Russian Federation."
