RUSSIA has vowed to strike back after Britain moved to banish 23 Russian spooks within a week in the wake of the spy poisoning scandal.

Responding to Theresa May's announcement that diplomats who are really spies will be booted out, Moscow threatened its "response measures will not be long in coming".

11 Theresa May speaks about Russia in the Commons Credit: Sky News

The PM said Russia had shown "contempt and defiance" in the aftermath of an attempt to kill ex-spy Sergei Skripal and warned that the poisoning represented "the unlawful use of force by Russia against the United Kingdom".

She also confirmed that no ministers or members of the Royal Family will attend this summer's World Cup in Russia - but stopped short of calling on the England team to pull out of the tournament.

Putin's officials responded with fury, saying Britain's tough response was "unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted" and describing it as a "provocation".

A statement released by the Russian embassy in the capital crowed: "Obviously, by investigating this incident in a unilateral, non-transparent way, the British Government is again seeking to launch a groundless anti-Russian campaign.

What we know so far:

11 Theresa May has announced new measures to combat Vladimir Putin's meddling Credit: Getty - Contributor

11 Despite the evidence, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn puzzled even his own party with his view Credit: AFP or licensors

"Needless to say, our response measures will not be long in coming."

After Ms May announced the spy expulsion Jeremy Corbyn sparked anger when he suggested that Russia might NOT be behind the attack and compared the investigation to claims about Saddam Hussein's WMDs.

The PM also announced this afternoon:

New laws to help Britain defend itself from all forms of hostile Russian activity

Flights and goods from Russia will face extra checks to stop ill-gotten gains entering the UK

All planned talks with Russian officials, including a visit from the foreign minister, are cancelled

Assets belonging to Putin's government will be frozen to stop them being used for wrongdoing

Suspected spies could be detained at Britain's borders like terrorists under new powers

The UK's allies France, Germany and the US are in full support of her tough stance

The expulsion of 23 Russian spies is the toughest act of its kind for 30 years - and will almost certainly spark a tit-for-tat diplomatic war, with British diplomats likely to be kicked out of Moscow.

Mrs May told the House of Commons: "To those who seek to do us harm, our message is clear - you are not welcome here."

11 Putin today visited Crimea to campaign for the upcoming election Credit: Getty - Contributor

Blasting Putin’s refusal to respond to her demand for an explanation, the PM said: “It was right to offer Russia the opportunity to provide an explanation.

“But their response has demonstrated complete disdain for the gravity of these events. They have provided no credible explanation that could suggest they lost control of their nerve agent.

“No explanation as to how this agent came to be used in the United Kingdom; no explanation as to why Russia has an undeclared chemical weapons programme in contravention of international law.

“Instead they have treated the use of a military grade nerve agent in Europe with sarcasm, contempt and defiance.

“There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter - and for threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.

“This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom.”

11 A police officer in a forensics suit as investigations continue into the poisoning Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Any Russian spies who try to re-enter Britain will now be stopped at the border in the same way as terror suspects, the PM said.

She announced that sanctions on human rights violators will be stepped up, and vowed to freeze the assets of the Russian regime if they are being used to meddle in the UK.



Mrs May added: “We will continue to bring all the capabilities of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people - or their money - in our country.”

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who was due to visit Britain shortly, has had his invitation withdrawn, she announced.

The PM said: “I continue to believe it is not in our national interest to break off all dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.



“But in the aftermath of this appalling act against our country, this relationship cannot be the same.”

And she warned Putin that Britain will not stand alone, revealing that Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have promised to present a united front against Russian atrocities.

Labour MP Chris Bryant blasts Russian ambassador and calls for PM to kick him out

And Nikki Haley, America's ambassador to the UN said: "Let me make one thing clear from the very beginning, the United States stands in absolute solidarity with Great Britain.

"The United States believes that Russia is responsible for the attack on two people in the United Kingdom using a military-grade nerve agent. Dozens of civilians and first responders were also exposed.

"No two nations enjoy a stronger bond than that of the United States and the United Kingdom. Ours is truly a special relationship.

"When our friends in Great Britain face a challenge, the United States will always be there for them. Always."

11 Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko hit out at Britain

But Jeremy Corbyn caused fury by immediately taking political potshots, as he brought up cuts to our diplomatic capability.

He also said he agreed with Russia that we should hand over a sample of the nerve agent used to them too.

The leftie Labour boss was heckled by Tory MPs as he suggested we should maintain a “robust dialogue” with Russia.

And he used his comments to snipe at Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, saying he was “demeaning” his office.

Mrs May lashed out at Labour for refusing to join together with the Government in a time of national crisis.

“They could have taken the opportunity to condemn the culpability of the Russian state,” she stormed.

And Mr Corbyn’s own MPs joined the anger as they pledged support for the Prime Minister’s actions.

But some Labour supporters claim the attack on Mr Skripal was a "false flag" designed to damage the party leader, The Sun revealed today.

The Russian embassy in London responded to Mrs May's statement with fury, saying: "We consider this hostile action as totally unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted.

“All the responsibility for the deterioration of the Russia-UK relationship lies with the current political leadership of Britain."

11 Theresa May on her way to the House of Commons today

After today’s escalation of hostilities, Brits visiting Russia were warned they must avoid talking publically about politics in case they attract the regime’s attention.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for the country, telling tourists they could face “anti-British sentiment or harassment”.

Officials added: “You’re advised to remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publically on political developments.”

The Russian regime has refused to explain its role in the attempted hit - saying it will take at least ten days to respond to the PM's ultimatum.

And ambassador Alexander Yakovenko went further today, saying: "Everything done today is absolutely unacceptable and we consider this a provocation.

"The UK should follow international law. They have to present the request to the organisation and we are happy to consider this within the ten days.

"We believe this is a very serious provocation and of course we are not ready to talk."

11 Soldiers wearing protective clothing at an address in Gillingham

It has emerged that police are looking for a mysterious couple who may be witnesses to the attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter while the investigation has widened from Salisbury to Gillingham.

The PM set Russia a deadline of midnight last night to explain how nerve agent novichok came to be used in the brazen attack - but the regime responded by taunting Britain and boasting about its nuclear arsenal.

Mrs May held a meeting of the National Security Council this morning, before returning to the Commons to outline the next steps in the campaign to punish Russia for the assassination attempt.

Britain has also called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in a bid to hold the regime to account, while the UK's Nato allies pledged to stand firm alongside us.

This morning Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, made the bizarre claim that Russia hasn’t actually received a formal request for information from the UK.

He said Putin’s government would take ten days to respond once the official message is received.

Top Tory pushes PM to pull England out of the World Cup A SENIOR Tory MP today vowed to lobby Theresa May to pull England out of this summer’s World Cup, which is being hosted by Russia. Bernard Jenkin said taking part in the tournament would give Vladimir Putin a “propaganda coup” and blasted the “odious and poisonous” Russian leader. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Nasty regimes like to host these big sporting events as a great sort of propaganda coup. “It legitimises their regime... sport reaches way beyond politics, way beyond international policy as a tool of propaganda. We must spoil this tool for Putin on this occasion.” Mr Jenkin compared Russia under Putin to apartheid-era South Africa, which was subject to a worldwide sporting boycott for decades. The top Tory is the latest in a string of senior figures who have called on the England team to stay away from the World Cup in response to the spy poisoning scandal. Others want Mrs May to push Fifa to take the tournament away from Russia entirely, or organise a boycott involving all Britain’s allies. Today the PM confirmed that British officials and members of the Royal Family will stay away - but stopped short of a total boycott.

11 Alisher Usmanov, who owns 30 per cent of Arsenal, is a possible target Credit: Getty

As well as issuing a public ultimatum on Monday, Mrs May summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office, while Britain’s ambassador to Moscow held talks with Putin officials this week.

Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most popular opposition leader, said the best way to show Putin Britain is serious about action would be to target wealthy Russians who are now based in London.

He singled out Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, and Alisher Usmanov, who has a 30 per cent stake in Arsenal, as well as Putin’s deputy PM Igor Shuvalov, who owns a luxury flat in the capital.

Mr Navalny told The Times: “The unpleasant scenario for Putin would be if the English finally chuck out from their country dozens of our officials and oligarchs with their families and money.

“And here there are three key surnames - Abramovich, Usmanov and Shuvalov.”

Mr Abramovich, 51, was governor of a Russian province before moving to London when he bought Chelsea in 2003, turning the team into a major European force.

Mr Usmanov, 64, is the second largest shareholder in Arsenal and one of the wealthiest people in the UK.

PM Theresa May confirms that Russia is 'highly likely' to have carried out the attack on former spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury using military-grade nerve agent

11 Sergey and Yulia Skripal were poisoned in Salisbury

Mr Navalny dismissed suggestions of boycotting the World Cup and banning Kremlin TV channel RT, claiming both would play into Putin’s hands by making Britain seem illiberal.

On Monday, Mrs May announced that tests on the nerve agent used to poison Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia - who remain gravely ill in hospital - proved it was the rare substance novichok, made in a Russian state lab.

She told Putin he had until midnight last night to explain how the poison came to be deployed in Britain last week.

But yesterday Russian officials claimed they couldn’t respond without being allowed to analyse samples of the substance themselves.

11 Theresa May has pointed the finger at Russia for the attempted hit Credit: PA:Press Association

I express my full solidarity with PM @theresa_may in the face of the brutal attack inspired, most likely, by Moscow. I’m ready to put the issue on next week’s #EUCO agenda. — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 14, 2018

The foreign minister’s spokesman pointed out that Russia is a nuclear-armed power, hinting at a vicious retaliation against new sanctions from the West.

Britain’s allies have been quick to stand united against the Russian threat, with Donald Trump telling the PM he is with the UK “all the way”.

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Overnight, leaders from Poland and Australia joined their voices to the chorus of support for Britain, raising the chances of a co-ordinated global response to Russia’s atrocities.

And Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, vowed to debate the issue at a meeting of all EU leaders next week.

He tweeted today: "I express my full solidarity with PM @theresa_may in the face of the brutal attack inspired, most likely, by Moscow."