Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow expels British diplomat for ‘spying’ and summons ambassador as row erupts
Comes as Kremlin calls claims Ukraine may be armed with nuclear weapons by West ‘absolutely irresponsible’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Moscow has expelled a British diplomat, accusing him of espionage, Russia’s FSB security service has said.
The TASS news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ministry had summoned the British ambassador.
According to the FSB, the British diplomat was a replacement for one of six UK diplomats expelled in August, also on espionage charges. It said the diplomat had provided false information on his documents and carried out espionage and sabotage activities.
There was no immediate comment from Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The British embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment.
It comes as the Kremlin has called claims Ukraine may be armed with nuclear weapons by the West “absolutely irresponsible”.
The New York Times reported last week that some unidentified Western officials had suggested that US President Joe Biden could give Ukraine nuclear weapons, though there were fears such a step would have serious implications.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the anonymous sources making the comments do not feel “a shred of responsibility”, warning the West to listen carefully to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former British soldier ‘fighting for Ukraine is captured by Russian forces’
A Russian charged with sending video of military equipment to Ukraine gets 14 years in prison
Joe Rogan accused of pushing Russian propaganda by Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko
Russian threats will not ‘dictate our decisions’ on Ukraine, minister tells Nato
James Scott Rhys Anderson: Who is ex-British soldier captured in Russia’s Kursk region?
James Scott Rhys Anderson, who says he is a former British soldier, has been captured in Russia’s Kursk region while fighting for Ukraine, according to Russian state media.
The 22-year-old man’s father told the Daily Mail he feared his son would be tortured, while the UK Foreign Office confirmed it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.
His capture would mark one of the first known cases of a Western national being captured on Russian soil while fighting for Ukraine.
So, who is Mr Anderson, and how did this man come to be captured by Russian forces?
Who is the former British soldier captured in Russia’s Kursk region?
The father of the man identifying himself as a 22-year-old former British signalman says his son joined the army at 17 and later served with the police before going to fight for Ukraine
Turkey’s Erdogan and Nato chief discuss ways to end Ukraine war, Ankara says
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and Nato chief Mark Rutte discussed possible ways to end Russia’s war in Ukraine during talks in Ankara on Monday, the Turkish presidency has said.
“During the meeting, what can be done to end the Ukraine-Russia war and the massacre in Palestine were discussed,” the presidency said on X.
Watch: Ukrainian boxer Klitschko accuses Joe Rogan of pushing Russian propaganda
Russia progressing in Donetsk ‘significantly faster’ than in whole of last year, analysts say
On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are straining to hold back Russian offensives in the eastern Donetsk region.
Russian forces recently have gained ground at “a significantly quicker rate” than they did in the whole of last year, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War think-tank.
The Russians have detected and are exploiting weaknesses in the Ukrainian defenses, the think-tank said.
Russian charged with sending video of military equipment to Ukraine jailed for 14 years
A Russian man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of high treason for a video he allegedly sent to Ukraine’s security services showing russian military equipment.
The Volgograd District Court said Nikita Zhuravel had been “in disagreement with the political course of the Russian Federation” and entered into correspondence with a representative from Ukraine’s security services online and carried out tasks for him. It did not give details on the tasks.
Mr Zhuravel is already serving a 42-month sentence for burning a Quran in front of a mosque, which was handed down in February.
Prosecutors said he filmed a trainload of military equipment and warplanes in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine’s security agency.
But rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner who was beaten while in custody, by the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed strongman leader of the Muslim-majority region of Chechnya. The warlord posted the video on social media and praised his son, causing public outrage.
Treason and espionage cases have skyrocketed after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, with cases targeting a wide range of suspects, from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to scientists.
Putin showing ‘no sign of wanting to negotiate’, says Lammy
Speaking at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy, foreign secretary David Lammy told reporters he was “announcing the biggest sanctions package of the Russian shadow fleet” and warned that Vladimir Putin was showing “no signs at all” of wanting to negotiate over Ukraine.
“We are supporting them by £3bn a year every year for as long as it lasts to support them militarily, and of course with both economic and humanitarian aid we continue to support Ukraine,” said Mr Lammy.
“It’s hugely important at this G7 that all colleagues across the G7 continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts and we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025.
“Our assessment is that Putin shows no signs at all of wanting a negotiation. We have to ensure that Ukrainians are equipped for the fight.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments