A British diplomat has been kicked out of Russia after being accused of spying.
The diplomat was told to leave the country within two weeks after having his accreditation revoked.
Russia's counterintelligence agency, the FSB, said they had found signs the second secretary to UK's Moscow embassy was "carrying out intelligence and subversive activities that threaten the security of the Russian Federation," according to Russian media.
They accused him of attempting to gather information on the economy through informal meetings.
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The FSB also claimed he "provided false information about himself".
It adds to ongoing tensions between Russia and Britain, which have seen multiple diplomatic expulsions over allegations of spying and espionage over recent years.
Sir Keir Starmer recently announced British commandos will be permitted to board and halt Russian shadow fleet vessels.
A British diplomat has been kicked out of Russia after being accused of spying
| GETTYAnnouncing the official authorisation to seize Russian vessels, Sir Keir said: "[Vladimir] Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.
"That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder."
Despite this pledge, at least six vessels, which are used to prop up Moscow's beaten oil industry, have sailed through since.
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HMS Somerset flanking a Russian vessel (file pic) | PABritain has sanctions on 544 ships in the Russian shadow fleet - more than any other nation.
Moscow's shadow fleet is a secret network of ships used to dodge Western embargoes on Russian oil exports.
The vessels attempt to evade capture by transporting the oil on aged tankers with deliberately obscure ownership or insurance.
They transport Russian crude oil to China, India, and Turkey.
Defence Secretary John Healey defended the government's approach, insisting such operations require "training, preparation, understanding, discussion with allies, a clear legal basis".
Mr Healey he added that Britain had provided assistance to French and American operations against shadow fleet vessels, describing the new authorisation as "a signal to Putin that he may want us to be distracted by the Middle East, but we're ready to act".
The UK assisted in the US's seizure of the Marinera oil tanker in January, and later that month Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Dagger assisted the French to seize the Grinch, another sanctioned ship.
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