Austria expels four Russian diplomats, three from the embassy and one from Russia's OSCE delegation

On 23 October 2026 Austria's Foreign Ministry said that, based on findings by the Austrian security authorities, it had taken measures against four Russian diplomats in Vienna for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status — wording usually used in espionage cases. Three worked at the Russian Embassy and were declared persona non grata; the fourth, a member of Russia's delegation to the OSCE who worked on military security and arms control, was ordered to leave Austria. The ministry did not disclose the activities.

Established by. Austria's Foreign Ministry, 23 Oct 2026: the diplomats were engaged in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, based on findings by the Austrian security authorities (as reported by Kyiv Post and Euromaidan Press). The ministry did not use the word espionage or name the activities; the expulsion itself is a formal act.

Latest. Expelled on 23 October 2026. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said a response was unavoidable (TASS, as reported by AP). Reuters counts 18 expulsions of Russian diplomats by Austria since 2020.

Link to the war against Ukraine. One of those expelled worked on military security and arms control in Russia's delegation to the OSCE, where Russia's war against Ukraine is on the agenda; earlier Austrian expulsions concerned the interception of communications of international organisations in Vienna.