More than 120 Russian diplomats expelled in almost two days

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister announced that Moscow will retaliate

According to The Guardian and RT, Italy, Denmark and Sweden are the latest three countries to announce the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Thus, within the past 48 hours, more than 120 Russian diplomats have been requested by EU countries to return home.

The deportation comes amid international outrage over the killings in the town of Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Over the weekend, dozens of bodies were found in mass graves or scattered across the street.

Ukraine accuses it of being the action of the Russian military, but Moscow has denied it, saying it was all orchestrated by Kiev.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Miao told Rai television that “Italy has expelled 30 Russian diplomats for national security reasons”. The announcement comes after France and Germany expelled 35 and 40 Russian diplomats, respectively.

Following Italy, the Swedish Foreign Minister today (April 5) also announced the expulsion of three Russian diplomats for conducting illegal activities. Denmark also announced the expulsion of 15 “Russian intelligence officers” accused of spying. Yesterday, Lithuania also asked the Russian Ambassador to the country to return home in response to the military Russia Attacks Ukraine and caused the massacre in Bucha.

According to statistics of a French news agency, EU countries have expelled more than 230 Russian diplomats since Moscow attacked Kiev on February 24. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats would not go unanswered and Moscow would take the same action in response.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko today (April 5) said that the above actions are clearly a pre-coordinated operation and Moscow will certainly take countermeasures.

Last month, Russia expelled 10 diplomats from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Hoai Linh