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on september 13, local time, the russian federal security service (fsb) issued a statement saying that the uk actively participated in activities that exacerbated global tensions and undermined russia's stability. at present, six employees of the british embassy in russia have been terminated. subsequently, russian state television channel 24 disclosed their names and photos.

the day before, russian president vladimir putin issued the "toughest" warning against the continued hype by the united kingdom and the united states about lifting restrictions on the use of western weapons against ukraine. he said that this would greatly change the nature of the conflict, meaning that the united states and its allies would be directly involved in the conflict with russia and would be met with an "appropriate response" from russia.

according to documents obtained by the fsb, the uk is escalating the international military and political situation. "the main body for coordinating the policy of subversion in the direction of russia and the cis is the british foreign office's eastern europe and central asia department (eecad), which was transformed into an intelligence agency after the start of the special military operation," the statement reads, and its main task is to inflict a "strategic defeat" on russia.

the fsb said there was reason to believe that the activities of british diplomats sent to moscow through the agency posed a "security threat" to russia.

in response to the unfriendly behavior of the united kingdom, the russian ministry of foreign affairs, in cooperation with relevant departments, revoked the work qualifications of six staff members of the political department of the british embassy in russia. "their behavior showed signs of engaging in intelligence and subversive work."

the russian federal security service also stated that if such signs are found in the work of british diplomats in russia, they will be asked to terminate their work early.

screenshot of the russian federal security service statement

russia's state television channel 24 later disclosed the names and photos of the six employees whose commissions were revoked.

the tv host said the six were jessica davenport, callum andrew duff, grace alwyn, catherine macdonald, blake patel and thomas john hickson stevenette.

"the british did not accept our hint that this practice (carrying out intelligence activities in russia) must be stopped, so we decided to expel the six people first," a russian federal security service staff member told russia's state television channel 24.

according to the russian satellite news agency, russian federal security service agents said that the new organizational structure of the british foreign office has become a coordination center for undermining the stability of the world situation and dragging all major players in the world into global conflicts.

"as for the composition of the unit, there are many familiar faces, including former employees of mi6 (sis), who worked at the british embassy in moscow. 'diplomats' whose accreditation we have now revoked may also serve in the unit," he added.

in response, russian foreign ministry spokeswoman zakharova said in an interview with tass that she fully supports the russian federal security service's assessment of britain's unfriendly behavior.

she also told the russian satellite news agency that the behavior of the british embassy in russia has far exceeded the scope of the vienna convention on diplomatic relations. "most importantly, this is not just a formality, nor is it just a matter of not complying with the declared activities, but an act aimed at harming our people."

according to russia today (rt), the british side has not yet responded.

according to reports, since the outbreak of the russia-ukraine conflict, relations between russia and the uk have fallen to an unprecedented low. the two countries have repeatedly expelled each other's diplomats and imposed sanctions.

in february this year, the russian federal security service also issued a statement saying that the british government organization "british council" was conducting intelligence work for kiev in kherson oblast and using ukrainian refugees to collect intelligence.

"it has been discovered that the foreign organization used ukrainian refugees living in the uk to obtain military and political intelligence information through their contacts with existing relatives and friends in kherson oblast." the statement also wrote that russian intelligence agencies are verifying the activities of the association and those who secretly cooperate with the organization.

source | observer.com