Russia Expels Exact Same Number of British Diplomats

It has been a rather eventful week for UK - Russia relations, to say the least. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has stated it to be "overwhelmingly likely" that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the nerve agent attack on the Russian Spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33.

The two remain critically ill in hospital, and a police officer who was first on the scene is also gravely ill.

Amid Teresa May expelling 23 Russian diplomats from the UK, the Kremlin has responded in kind by dirtying its feet and demanding the exact same number of British diplomats be expelled from Moscow.

Sarah Rainsford, The BBC's Moscow correspondent, has said that the measures were harsh and went even further than the steps taken by Britain. 

Moscow has also stated that it will close both the British Council and the British Consulate in St. Petersburg.

The British Government says that Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok, for which PM Theresa May said she believes Moscow is "culpable".

By Tamzin Whitewood

Photo source: Express.co.uk