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Russia has moved to expel a senior UK diplomat, accusing him of espionage.

Getting into it: According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the diplomat (identified as Albertus Gerhardus Janse van Rensburg), a second secretary at the British Embassy in Moscow, was found to have engaged in what it described as “intelligence and subversive activities” that threaten Russian national security. The agency claimed he had “intentionally provided false information” when applying for permission to enter the country and alleged he attempted to obtain sensitive economic information during informal meetings with Russian experts. As a result, his diplomatic accreditation was revoked, and he was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks.

The FSB said its counterintelligence officers had identified what they described as an undisclosed intelligence presence tied to the diplomat and warned Russian citizens to avoid contact with British diplomats to prevent potential consequences. Russian state media further amplified the claims, saying that the diplomat’s actions were part of broader intelligence-gathering efforts.

In response, the UK Foreign Office rejected the allegations outright, calling them “completely unacceptable” and dismissing the accusations as “malicious and completely baseless.” Officials said Russia was carrying out an “aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats,” adding: “The UK does not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families.”

This comes just days after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled a tougher stance against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of aging oil tankers used to evade Western sanctions. Starmer said the UK would work with northern European allies to intercept and potentially board these vessels as they pass through British waters, with the aim of “going after” the ships “even harder.”

He added that the move is designed to “starve Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign,” and said his government was committed to cutting off key revenue streams tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

At the time, UK officials indicated that any operation would be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis, involving law enforcement, military, and energy experts before action is taken.

Some have questioned whether the diplomat’s removal could be in retaliation for the UK’s plans to get more aggressive against Russia’s shadow fleet.