On March 10th local time, the Russian Federal Security Service issued a notice stating that two personnel from the British Embassy in Russia intentionally filled in incorrect information while processing entry procedures, violating Russian laws. In addition, the two also showed signs of engaging in intelligence gathering and sabotage activities. According to relevant laws, the Russian side has revoked the registration qualifications of two individuals in Russia and imposed a two-week deadline for their departure.

The Russian Federal Security Service stated that Alkesh Odra, the second secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow, and Michael Skinner, the husband of the first secretary of the political department of the diplomatic mission, provided false information upon entering Russia and engaged in espionage activities that endangered Russian national security. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revoked the authentication of these two individuals based on the investigation results of the Federal Security Service and ordered them to leave Russia within two weeks.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on the same day that it had summoned representatives from the British Embassy in Russia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that Moscow will never tolerate undeclared British intelligence personnel engaging in activities on Russian territory.

The UK has not yet made any comments on this matter.

This is not the first time in the past six months that the Russian counterintelligence agency has targeted the British Embassy in Moscow. Last September, the Russian Federal Security Service exposed six employees of the Political Department of the British Embassy in Moscow for engaging in espionage and sabotage work, and revoked their certifications. The Federal Security Agency stated at the time that it had obtained documents proving that London was coordinating actions to escalate global tensions. At the end of November of the same year, Wilkes Edward Pryor, the second secretary of a certain department of the British Embassy, had his visa revoked for engaging in espionage and sabotage work, providing false information when obtaining entry permits, and violating Russian law.

In recent years, the relationship between Russia and the UK has remained tense due to intelligence issues. Both sides have repeatedly expelled diplomats from each other, and diplomatic friction continues to escalate. The expulsion of two British diplomats by Russia this time will undoubtedly further deadlock the relationship between the two countries, and the subsequent development deserves continuous attention.