TWELVE members of Russia’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations (UN) have been ordered to leave the United States (US) by March 7, said Russia’s ambassador to the world body yesterday.

Vassily Nebenzia told reporters in New York that he had just learned of the expulsion.

AFP is not immediately able to independently confirm the order, and a spokesman for the US State Department said he has no comment.

“It is bad news,” said Nebenzia, refusing to specify whether he is among those told to leave.

He did not relay any reason given by the US or whether the move is linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

State Department spokesman Ned Price told a separate briefing in Washington that he does not have any detail “in front of me”.

“I am sure we will have more to say on this later today.”

The Russian mission to the UN has around 100 staff members, according to a Russian diplomatic source. – AFP, March 1, 2022.