Austria expelled three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage.
Moscow stated that it will respond firmly to this decision.
The Austrian government has declared three Russian diplomats persona non grata due to an "antenna forest" located on the roofs of diplomatic buildings, which was potentially used for espionage purposes. Reuters reported this.
It has been reported that numerous satellite antennas installed on buildings belonging to the Russian state in Vienna, particularly in residential complexes where diplomatic staff live, have long drawn the attention of Austria's main domestic intelligence service. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that this equipment could be used to monitor and intercept satellite communications of other countries.
"Using diplomatic immunity for espionage purposes is absolutely unacceptable," said Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger in a statement.
She emphasized that these three diplomats have already left the country.
With this, the number of Russian diplomats expelled from Austria since 2020 has reached 14.
Austria's state broadcaster described these three individuals as embassy employees. The Foreign Ministry confirmed this information but did not provide further details.
The Russian Embassy in Vienna did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter. However, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, citing the embassy, stated that Moscow would respond firmly to this decision.
When asked at a press conference why this equipment posed a threat, the head of the State Security and Intelligence Directorate, Silvia Mayer, said it was related to their size and nature, but did not comment on the timing of the diplomats' expulsion.
Vienna is an international diplomatic hub, hosting the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and institutions affiliated with the United Nations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Major countries like Russia and the United States typically appoint separate ambassadors for Austria, the OSCE, and UN organizations, each managing their own diplomatic mission.
Vienna, divided into sectors by allied powers after World War II, has long been known as the "city of spies" due to the abundance of embassies and international organizations.
