Live News Updates: France expels Russian agents after exposing alleged spy operations

France said it had uncovered a Russian intelligence operation on French soil and will expel six Russian agents it said were operating under diplomatic cover.

“After a very long investigation, on April 10, the Directorate-General for Internal Security (DGSI) uncovered a secret operation by Russian intelligence services in our country,” France’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.

“Six Russian agents operating under diplomatic cover and whose activities have proven contrary to our national interests” were declared personae non gratae.

The State Department gave no further details on the nature of the Russian operation, nor did Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who tweeted only that it was a “remarkable counterintelligence operation.”

Remarkable operation de counter-espionnage. Bravo aux agents de la DGSI qui ont entravé un réseau d’agents clandestins russes qui œuvraient contre nos intérêts. Les agents impliqués devront quitter le territoire national. Dans l’ombre, la DGSI Veille sur nos intérêts fondamentaux

— Gerald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) April 11, 2022

France earlier this month expelled 35 Russians with diplomatic status after releasing images of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops in Bucha after invading Ukraine in late February.

That was part of a broader, coordinated EU response, in which Germany also expelled diplomats on the same day.

France has summoned the Russian ambassador several times in recent weeks, including over images and statements posted on Twitter by the embassy’s official account, which it called provocative and indecent.

On Monday, the French foreign ministry said the ambassador’s number two had been summoned in his absence over the alleged Russian operation.