British diplomat expelled from Russia after being accused of being a spy

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Robyn Vinter and agencyJanuary 15, 2026 at 09:47 AM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

A British diplomat has been expelled from Russia after being accused of espionage. The Russian foreign ministry stated the diplomat, who remains unnamed, was given two weeks to leave the country due to alleged ties to British intelligence. The British deputy head of mission was summoned and informed of the expulsion, with Russia warning against any escalation from the UK, promising a "mirror" response. This action follows a history of reciprocal diplomat expulsions between Russia and the UK, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine. In March of last year, Russia expelled two British diplomats, and the UK responded in kind, accusing Russia of intimidation and threats to UK security. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Europe 30% Donald Trump 40% David Lammy 40% UK Foreign Office 50% United States ×250% Ukraine 50% Danae Dholakia 60% Russian Foreign Ministry ×270% UK ×680% Russia ×990%

Keywords

diplomat expulsion 100% espionage 80% russia 80% united kingdom 80% diplomatic relations 70% spy 70% foreign ministry 60% retaliation 50% intelligence officers 50% ukraine war 40%