Russian diplomats expelled from New York for alleged 'espionage activities'

The United States on Monday said it is expelling 12 Russian diplomats in New York, an act Russia's ambassador to the United Nations described as "hostile."

Olivia Dalton, a spokeswoman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, accused the diplomats of "engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security" and said they "abused their privileges of residency in the U.S." The expulsions were in "the works for several months," she added, and not because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.