Russia accused of intimidating US consulate staff with Ukraine war spying charges

State department says allegations against Robert Shonov are wholly without merit', as rare footage of detained US citizen Paul Whelan emerges

The United States has accused Moscow of attempting to intimidate and harass US employees, after Russian state media reported that a former US consulate worker had been charged with collecting information on the war in Ukraine and other issues for Washington.

The FSB security service has accused Robert Shonov, a Russian national, of relaying to US embassy staffers in Moscow information on how Russia's conscription campaign was affecting political discontent ahead of the 2024 presidential election in Russia, according to Russian state news agency Tass.