Ukraine has declared the Russian consul in the Black Sea port city of Odesa as 'persona non grata' after a second Ukrainian diplomat was kicked out of Russia in an ongoing diplomatic spat between the two countries.
The consul must leave the country by April 30 at the latest, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on April 27.
Amid already heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, the latest diplomatic row was sparked by the arrest and subsequent expulsion of a Ukrainian consul earlier this month in St. Petersburg.
Russian authorities accused the diplomat of trying to acquire personal data from secret service agents.
In return, Kyiv expelled a Russian diplomat, prompting Moscow to respond by expelling a second Ukrainian on April 26.
"We completely reject the unsubstantiated allegations that the declared "persona non grata" Ukrainian diplomat allegedly engaged in activities incompatible with diplomatic status. The employee of the Embassy of Ukraine in Moscow did not carry out any actions that would go beyond his diplomatic and consular functions," the Ukrainian statement said.
"If the Russian side continues to provoke against employees of diplomatic missions of Ukraine in Russia, we reserve the right to take further action in response," it added.
Tense ties since Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and Russia's backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine have been recently heightened by a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine and military drills in the annexed region.
For years, neither Russia nor Ukraine have had ambassadors in each other's capital.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Family In Buryatia Grieves Over Son Killed In Ukraine War: 'If We Stop Now, What Has It Been For?'
2Russia Bans 963 Prominent Americans From Entering Russia
3Buzzing, But Not With Tourists: Crimea Suffers As Russians Avoid Region Over War
4Montenegro's $1 Billion Highway Faces Uncertain Future After Years Of Delays
5'Putin Only Understands Force,' Says Ukrainian Ex-President In Call For United Response Against Russia
6Ukrainian Teachers Balk As Moscow Seeks To Impose 'Russian Standards' In Occupied Territories
7Living Under The Cross: A New Architectural Tradition Rises In The Tbilisi Suburbs
8'Putin Is The Devil!' Daghestani Schoolgirl Protests Ukraine War At Graduation Ceremony
9Russian Soldier Sentenced To Life In Prison In First War Crimes Case Since Ukraine Invasion
10Live Briefing: Russia Invades Ukraine
Subscribe