Russia Expels British Defense Attaché in Retaliation for London’s Earlier Expulsion Amid Spying Allegations
On Thursday, Russia announced the expulsion of Britain’s defense attaché, giving the diplomat a week to leave the country. This move comes as a retaliatory action against the UK’s earlier expulsion of the Russian defense attaché due to accusations of espionage. The Russian Foreign Ministry conveyed its strong disapproval to a representative of the British Embassy in Moscow, criticizing the UK’s decision as unfounded and indicative of anti-Russian sentiment, which they believe severely harms the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Earlier in May, the UK had taken several steps aimed at disrupting Russian intelligence operations within its borders. These actions included the expulsion of Maxim Elovik, identified by the British government as an undeclared Russian military intelligence officer, the withdrawal of diplomatic status from various Russian-owned properties suspected of being used for intelligence activities, and the introduction of new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas and visits. The UK justified these measures by pointing to criminal investigations within London that suggested espionage and sabotage efforts by individuals linked to Russia.
Additionally, the UK government has raised concerns over alleged Russian activities designed to undermine military support for Ukraine in Germany and Poland, as well as accusations of espionage in Bulgaria and Italy. Russia’s involvement in cyber and disinformation campaigns, airspace violations, and the disruption of GPS signals affecting civilian aviation were also cited as reasons for the UK’s actions.
In retaliation, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared the expulsion of British defense attaché Adrian Coghill and hinted at potential further measures. The relationship between the UK and Russia has been strained for years, with the UK accusing Russia of engaging in targeted assassinations, espionage, including cyberattacks on British officials, and the manipulation of sensitive information. The tensions have escalated since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, leading the UK to impose sanctions on numerous Russian individuals and to take steps to prevent money laundering through its property and financial sectors.