Expulsion of the UK defense attaché by Russia is a tit-for-tat move.

James Coleman | 16th May, 2024.

[File: Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo]

The Russian defense attaché to the United Kingdom was expelled earlier this month due to charges of spying, and in retaliation, Moscow designated the diplomat persona non grata and gave him a week to depart the nation.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday stating that it had called a delegate from the British Embassy in Moscow to convey its "strong protest in connection with the unfriendly and groundless decision" to remove the attaché from London.

“We emphasized that we regard this step as a politically motivated action of clearly Russophobic nature, which is causing irreparable damage to bilateral relations,” the statement read.

A. T. Coghill, the defence attaché of the British Embassy in Moscow, has been made persona non grata. Within a week, he must depart Russian Federation territory, according to the ministry.

The expulsion of Coghill by Russia was referred to as "a desperate move" by UK Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps.

"Putin's only complaint with our DA was that they represented the UK's steadfast support for Ukraine, even though Russia's DA in the UK was functioning as a spy," Shapps stated.

On May 8, the United Kingdom (UK) announced a number of steps aimed at disrupting Moscow's intelligence operations within the country.

These included removing the diplomatic status of several Russian-owned properties because it is thought they were used for intelligence gatherings, expelling Russian colonel Maxim Elovik, whom the British government referred to as a "undeclared military intelligence officer," and putting additional limitations on Russian diplomatic visits and visas.

 According to the government, the actions were taken in response to criminal prosecutions in London that claimed Russian agents were involved in espionage and sabotage.

The report included claims that the Russian government planned to obstruct military assistance for Ukraine in Germany and Poland, conducted espionage in Bulgaria and Italy, violated air space, engaged in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, and jammed GPS signals to impede civilian aviation.

Russia and the UK have had a tense relationship for many years. The UK accuses Russian agents of espionage and targeted killings, including hacks against British lawmakers and the leakage and amplification of sensitive information to further Russian goals.

Following Russia's military incursion into Ukraine, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on hundreds of affluent Russian nationals and implemented measures to curb the laundering of money via London's real estate and financial sectors.