A foreign ministry official says “more than 20” German diplomats will have to leave Russia, according to state media.
Russia has announced the expulsion of more than 20 German diplomats following the “massive” removal of Russian embassy staff from the country, accusing Berlin of cutting ties, according to Russian state media.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state television Zvezda on Saturday that “more than 20” German diplomats would have to leave.
Her statement came shortly after the ministry denounced “another mass expulsion of employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Germany”.
The German Foreign Ministry said it had taken note of the Russian statements.
“The federal government and the Russian side have been [in] contacted in recent weeks about personnel matters in their respective representations abroad,” the German foreign ministry told AFP news agency.
“Today’s flight is part of that process,” it said, without specifically mentioning the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Moscow accused Berlin of “demonstratively destroying the entire scope of relations between Russia and Germany”.
“In response to Berlin’s hostile actions, Russia has decided to reverse the decision and expel German diplomats from Russia,” the foreign ministry said.
Moscow will also limit the maximum number of employees in German diplomatic missions in the country, and it said German ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr was informed of the measures on April 5.
Germany has maintained deep economic ties with Moscow for many years, particularly in the energy sector where it relies on Russian gas.
Soured tires
However, relations deteriorated since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine and Berlin stepped up its financial and military support for Kiev.
Germany had been criticized for being too slow in delivering weapons to Kiev and its reluctance to allow the shipment of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
In January it finally agreed to allow the armaments to be shipped and pledged to deliver some of the most modern of its supplies.
The Kremlin said the Western tanks would “burn”.
Germany’s security service also raised alert levels regarding Russian espionage, which it said had reached an unprecedented level following what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine.
It said Russia was targeting German companies and strategic infrastructure, especially energy, railways and roads.
At the beginning of last year, Germany expelled 40 Russian diplomats whom they said posed a security threat.
In October, Germany’s cybersecurity chief, Arne Schoenbohm, was fired after allegations he had ties to Russian intelligence.