In a retaliatory move, the Biden administration has expelled two Russian diplomats from the United States. This action comes in response to Russia's expulsion of two American diplomats from Moscow last month. The State Department took this step after Russia declared the American diplomats persona non grata for their contacts with a Russian national who had previously worked at the now-closed US consulate in Vladivostok and was arrested this year. Spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the State Department will not tolerate the Russian government's pattern of harassment of American diplomats. He emphasized that any unacceptable actions against US embassy personnel in Moscow will have consequences.

This expulsion comes amid escalating animosity between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine, with diplomatic relations reaching their lowest point since the Cold War. Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Jeffrey Sillin and David Bernstein, first and second secretaries at the US Embassy in Russia, of illegal activities and ordered them to leave the country within seven days. The ministry alleged that the diplomats maintained contact with Robert Shonov, a former consulate employee who was accused of gathering intelligence on Russia's military actions in Ukraine and related matters.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) had arrested Shonov in August. The FSB claimed that he had collected information on the special military operation, mobilization processes in Russian regions, problems, and assessed their impact on protest activities leading up to the 2024 presidential election. The expulsion of these diplomats indicates a severe strain in bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. As tensions escalate over Ukraine, both nations continue to engage in retaliatory measures, including the expulsion of diplomats, further exacerbating the already fragile diplomatic environment. The long-standing rift between Washington and Moscow continues to deepen, with no immediate signs of resolution on the horizon.