Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats in a row over the nerve agent attack on an-ex spy and his daughter in the UK.
The Russian foreign ministry said the UK staff would be expelled from Moscow within a week in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.
It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital.
They were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 4 March.
The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok – the Russian government denies any involvement in the attack.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK government would consider its next steps “in the coming days, alongside our friends and partners”.
What we are all familiar with so far What happens when you expel foreign diplomats ? Why does UK think it was Russia ? Image caption Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital Media captionAmbassador Laurie Bristow: “We will always do what is necessary to defend ourselves” Image caption Russia's UK embassy tweeted a picture of a reception held to thank staff being expelled from Britain ‘Arsenal fans will be safe in Moscow' Conspiracy theories and denial in Russia What are Novichok agents and what do they do ? Czechs reject Russia nerve agent claims Media captionA look around Porton Down, Britain's military research base in to chemical and biological attacks
