Austria expels four Russian diplomats, including one at the OSCE mission, over suspected espionage

Four expulsions announced

Austria's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, 23 October 2026 that four Russian diplomats must leave the country. Three are accredited to the Russian embassy in Vienna, and the fourth belonged to Russia's mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The ministry said the four had carried out activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, which made them persona non grata. According to the ministry, the OSCE diplomat handled military security and arms control questions within that mission. Profil reported that the diplomats were suspected of espionage, but the ministry's statement does not use that word. The ministry gave no further details about the reasons for the expulsions.

Basis for the decision

The ministry said the measures rest on findings of Austria's security services, but it released no further details. It remains unclear what concrete espionage activities the diplomats are alleged to have carried out. According to Profil, the defence ministry emailed Bundesheer staff and militia soldiers in August 2026, warning them about contact attempts by suspected Kremlin agents and asking for tips. Several tips arrived, and the domestic services are pursuing them intensively, the magazine reported. Profil also says the three embassy staff appeared on a list of 21 Russians allegedly involved in such contacts.

A pattern of expulsions

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Austria has expelled 18 Russian diplomats, including the four announced on Friday. In May 2026 Austria expelled three Russian diplomats suspected of espionage, after authorities discovered a so-called forest of antennas at the Russian embassy in Vienna that they said was used to collect data illegally. In March 2025 investigators broke up a group working for Russian intelligence services, which the Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence said aimed to manipulate Austrian public and political opinion to the detriment of Ukraine and the benefit of Russia.

Russia's presence in Vienna

Vienna hosts the United Nations, the OSCE and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Spiegel Online, citing security experts, says the Austrian capital has traditionally been a centre for espionage activity in Europe. The Guardian has estimated that of about 17,000 diplomats accredited in Vienna, up to 7,000 may have links to intelligence work. Figures for Russia's presence differ: ORF puts Russia's three Vienna missions at more than 200 accredited diplomats, while RMF24 counts more than 100 for the embassy and the UN and OSCE missions. The government has also announced a tightening of a law that allowed espionage as long as it was not directly aimed at Austrian interests, with new rules extending protection to international institutions and EU interests.

Austria's stance on Ukraine

Austria is a neutral EU member that supports Ukraine with humanitarian and civil aid but not military aid, and it contributes to the financing of the attacked country. The country hosts tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, most of whom live in Vienna. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) leads the ministry, which Spiegel Online reports has pursued a tougher course against suspected espionage from Russia. The four diplomats were ordered to leave Austrian territory.