Doha: Russia said on Monday that it has expelled two British embassy officials in Moscow, accusing them of engaging in illegal intelligence activities, while the UK denied these accusations, describing them as unfounded.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that its counterintelligence unit had detected covert British intelligence activities being carried out under the guise of diplomatic work.

The statement indicated that investigations revealed the diplomats had engaged in subversive activities, collected information unlawfully, and provided misleading information to gain entry to Russian territory, violating local laws.

This action is part of a series of Russian countermeasures against the United Kingdom, as Moscow had previously withdrawn the credentials of six British diplomats in recent months amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

In response, the British Foreign Office denied these Russian allegations, calling them unfounded, and noted that this is not the first time Moscow has made similar accusations against its staff.