A new step in the worsening diplomatic crisis between Moscow and London. In response to a similar behavior on the part of Britain, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared the military attaché at the British Embassy a persona non grata. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the military attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow will have to leave the Russian Federation within a week. “On May 16, the representative of the British Embassy in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where a strong protest was made to him in connection with the unfounded and hostile decision taken by the British authorities on May 8 regarding the military attaché in Moscow.” Russian Embassy in London,” the document stated.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that it considers this step “a politically motivated act of an anti-Russian nature, causing irreparable damage to bilateral relations.” “The British diplomat has been informed that the military attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow, Andrean Coghill, has been declared ‘persona non grata’ and will have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation within a week.” The Russian Foreign Ministry added, “Our reaction to the hostile anti-Russian actions of the British side announced on May 8 does not end with this action. “The initiators of the escalation will be informed that further retaliatory measures will be taken.”