Russia gave 23 U.K. diplomats a week to leave the country in response to a similar move by Britain in connection with the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury, Reuters reported.
Russia said March 17 that it was also blocking the activities of the British Council and the U.K's consulate-general in St. Petersburg.
The Foreign Ministry said that in doing so it was responding to the U.K.'s alleged "provocative actions and unsubstantiated accusations" and that it would retaliate in case of more "unfriendly steps" from London, the news wire said the same day.
On March 14, the U.K. ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats after the nerve agent attack and announced plans to freeze certain assets as well as suspend all planned high-level bilateral contacts between the two countries.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain would work with its allies in the coming days to see what needs to be done next, according to the report.
"We will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil from the Russian government. We can be reassured by the strong support we have received from our friends and allies around the world," May said.
