Russia has declared 10 workers of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow and the staff of the defence attache unwelcome on its territory.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, on April 26, the Ambassador of Norway Robert Kvile was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. They expressed a "strong protest" to him since Oslo had expelled 15 diplomats from the Russian embassy in Norway and employees of the military attache's office.

"This hostile step further aggravated the situation in our bilateral relations, which are already at a critically low level," the Russian ministry said.

Kvile was handed a note declaring 'persona non grata' 10 representatives of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow and the defence attache's office.

The Norwegian ambassador was also informed about the introduction of restrictions on hiring personnel from among Russian citizens by Norwegian diplomatic missions.

On April 13, Norway announced that 15 employees of the Russian Embassy in Norway, de facto engaged in espionage under diplomatic cover, were undesirable persons (Ukr).

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Anniken Guitfeldt, noted that Russia is currently the biggest threat to Norway in terms of intelligence activities.

Norway's intelligence service said that employees of the Russian embassy tried to recruit new informants, conduct radio intelligence and buy advanced technologies (Ukr).