U.S. expels 12 Russian U.N. diplomats over security concerns

FILE PHOTO: Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia sits at the U.N. Headquarters as the United Nations Security Council assembles to vote for a rare emergency special session of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. February 27, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo

The United States has expelled 12 Russian diplomats at the United Nations over national security concerns, U.S. and Russian diplomats said on Monday.

The U.S. mission to the United Nations described the Russian diplomats as "intelligence operatives" who had been "engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security."