Russia has declared a British diplomat persona non grata and ordered the official to leave the country, escalating diplomatic tensions with the United Kingdom.
FSB Accuses Diplomat of Espionage
The expulsion was announced on Thursday 15 January 2026 by Russia's Foreign Ministry. The move follows allegations from the Federal Security Service (FSB) that the embassy staff member was working for British intelligence. The FSB did not publicly present evidence to support its claim.
The UK's charge d'affaires in Russia, Danae Dholakia, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in Moscow to be formally notified of the decision. The ministry stated that the diplomat's accreditation had been revoked and that the individual must depart Russia within two weeks.
A Warning from Moscow
In a strongly worded statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared, "Moscow will not tolerate the work of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia." It further warned that it would respond in kind to any retaliatory measures taken by London.
As of now, the British government has not issued an immediate public reaction to the expulsion. This incident mirrors a similar event in March 2025, when Moscow expelled two British diplomats on identical spying charges, which the UK dismissed at the time as "malicious and baseless."
Relations at a Post-Cold War Low
This latest diplomatic rift occurs against a backdrop of severely strained relations between Russia and NATO nations. Ties have deteriorated to their worst point since the Cold War following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The cycle of mutual expulsions of diplomats has become a recurring feature of this tense period, with both sides engaging in tit-for-tat actions that further deepen the diplomatic freeze.
