A sign reading 'Freedom Square' in the national colours of Ukraine is set up near the Russian embassy, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Berlin, Germany, April 5, 2022. Reuters/Lisi Niesner
Numerous European Union countries expelled Russian diplomats following the apparent slaying of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, a town near Kyiv that was among the first targets of invading Russian forces.
Germany said late Monday it was kicking out 40 staff members from the Russian embassy in Berlin with suspected links to spy agencies. France followed suit, saying it was telling 35 diplomats to leave. And on Tuesday, Italy confirmed the expulsion of 30 Russian officials, while Denmark said it was sending 15 diplomats home and Sweden expelled three. The Baltic nations, Bulgaria and Poland have announced similar moves.
The EU is working on further sanctions against Russia after the world reacted with horror and outrage to the apparent war crimes in Ukraine.
Images of the victims in Bucha show "the unbelievable brutality of the Russian leadership” and those who follow its propaganda, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Monday. There’s a fear similar evidence might emerge from other areas in Ukraine occupied by Russian troops, she said.
"The federal government has therefore decided today to declare as persona non grata a significant number of members of the Russian Embassy who have worked every day against our freedom and against the cohesion of our society here in Germany,” Baerbock said.
The decision came after Bloomberg reported last week that Germany was mulling the expulsion of a large number of suspected Russian spies. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Russia will respond to the expulsions, Interfax reported.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi described the Bucha scenes as "astonishing,” and said that "the cruelty of the massacre against innocent civilians is scary and intolerable.”
France, meanwhile, said the Russians are being expelled because they were conducting activities "contrary to our security interests,” according to a statement.
Sweden said it based its decision on its assessment that the three Russian diplomats conducted illegal intelligence gathering in breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
"We will see what reactions we get and take it further then if we need,” Foreign Minister Ann Linde said at a news conference in Stockholm.
