Fifteen Russian diplomats expelled by Norway this week had sought to recruit sources, intercept communications and buy advanced technology, the Norwegian PST security police says.
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The diplomats' real employers were the Russian GRU, FSB and SVR intelligence services, PST counterintelligence chief Inger Haugland told a news conference on Friday.
"This lowers the threat from Russian intelligence in Norway by permanently reducing the number of intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover," Haugland said of the expulsions.
Norway's decision marks its largest ever expulsion of Russian diplomats and is the latest in a series such moves by Western nations since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia said it would respond to the expulsions.
NATO member Norway shares a border with Russia in the Arctic. It has stepped up security since the start of the Ukraine war, especially around its oil and gas installations, as it is now Europe's top gas supplier following a drop in Russian flows.
So far this year, Estonia, the Netherlands and Austria have also expelled Russian diplomats.
Norway also expelled three Russians in April 2022.
"This is an important step in countering, and reducing the level of, Russian intelligence activity in Norway, and thus in safeguarding our national interests," Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said on Thursday when announcing the expulsions.
"Russia currently poses the greatest intelligence threat to Norway ... We will not allow Russian intelligence officers to operate under diplomatic cover."
Australian Associated Press
