https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/n...nage-8rpmjn0rt
Nato ejects Russians over espionage
Nato has halved the size of Russia’s mission to the alliance in response to suspected malign activities such as espionage and killings in member states.
An official said the alliance had withdrawn the accreditation of eight members of the Russian mission, all of whom were “undeclared Russian intelligence officers”. A further two vacant posts will also be scrapped, reducing the size of the Russian mission from 20 to 10.
In the aftermath of the 2018 poisonings in Salisbury, the size of the Russian mission was reduced from 30 to 20 as part of a mass expulsion of spies across allied nations — the only other time Nato has taken such collective action against Moscow.
The official said the decision was “based on intelligence” on whichthey would not comment. However, it comes after allegations made in April about suspected Russian involvement in an explosion at an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic in 2014 that killed two people.
The decision will take effect at the end of the month. “We have strengthened our deterrence and defence in response to Russia’s aggressive actions, while at the same time we remain open for a meaningful dialogue,” the Nato official said.