Russia revokes accreditation of six UK Embassy staff, accusing them of subversion

Russia has revoked the accreditation of six staff members of the UK Embassy in Moscow, accusing them of conducting intelligence and subversion. 

"Based on the documents provided by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, as well as in response to numerous unfriendly steps taken by London, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the agencies concerned, has suspended the accreditation of six employees of the political department of the UK Embassy in Moscow, whose actions have shown signs of conducting intelligence and subversion," the the Public Affairs Centre of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation report states, as reported by the Russian Interfax service.

The propaganda channel Rossiya 24 showed a photo of the embassy staff and revealed their identities: Jessica Davenport, Grace Elvin, Andrew Callum, Catherine McDonnell, Thomas Hickson and Blake Pattel.

On 11 September, the UK Foreign Office summoned the Chargé d'Affaires to Iran in connection with the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.

Earlier, the UK imposed sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities involved in the production of drones and missiles, as well as on Russian cargo ships involved in the transport of missiles from Iran to Russia.