In response, the UK has labeled these accusations as 'completely baseless' and views the expulsions as a retaliatory measure against numerous unfriendly actions taken by Russia.

Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, there has been a significant increase in diplomatic expulsions, with Western countries expelling 670 Russian diplomats and Russia expelling 346 in retaliation.

The British Embassy in Moscow and the U.K. Foreign Office have not yet commented on the allegations surrounding the recent expulsions.

Tensions between Russia and the UK have escalated following the expulsion of six British diplomats, which the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claims is a response to alleged intelligence activities.

Documents from the UK Foreign Office reportedly indicate that the expelled diplomats were involved in intelligence-gathering and subversive activities against Russia.

Former British Ambassador to Russia, Sir Laurie Bristow, suggested that Russia's expulsion of British diplomats is a tactic to deter UK sanctions on Ukraine.

The FSB accused the expelled diplomats of coordinating efforts to escalate the conflict against Russia, asserting they were sent by a division of the U.K.'s Foreign Office.

In May 2023, the UK expelled a Russian defense attaché, accusing him of being an undeclared intelligence officer, further straining diplomatic relations.

These diplomatic tensions coincide with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Washington, where discussions are ongoing regarding Ukraine's request for Western-supplied weapons.

With potential discussions on long-range missile use by Ukraine expected at the upcoming UN General Assembly, the situation remains precarious.

An FSB official indicated that the UK ignored previous warnings to cease intelligence operations in Russia, which led to the decision to expel the diplomats.

The backdrop of these tensions includes historical incidents, such as the 2018 Skripal poisoning, which resulted in reciprocal expulsions between the UK and Russia.