Croatia expels 18 Russian diplomats

BELGRADE, Serbia

Croatia on Monday expelled 18 Russian diplomats and six administrative staff members working at the Russian embassy in the capital Zagreb, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

"Eighteen diplomats and six members of administrative staff (24 employees in total) at the Embassy of the Russian Federation have been asked to leave the Republic of Croatia," a ministry statement said.

Russian Ambassador to Zagreb Andrey Nesterenko was summoned to the ministry to protest Russia's "brutal aggression and numerous crimes" against Ukraine, the statement added.

With the announcement, Croatia has joined Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and others in expelling Russian embassy staff.

Some 382 Russian diplomats have been expelled from European countries since Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24.