Russia has expelled a British diplomat, accusing him of spying, Russian state media reported. RIA said the diplomat worked at the British embassy in Moscow, adding that the Russian Foreign Ministry had summoned the British ambassador.

Russia said on Tuesday it was expelling a British diplomat for alleged spying, in the latest blow to the already dire state of relations between the two countries.

Russian authorities have ordered a British diplomat to leave the country on allegations of spying as tensions soar over the conflict in Ukraine