Austria is the latest country to announce the decision to expel Russian diplomats from its territory. The information was made public by the spokesman for the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, who indicated that three diplomats working at the Russian embassy and one who performs duties in Salzburg should leave the country by next Tuesday.

"The (four) people acted inconsistently with their diplomatic status," the same source justified in a note issued regarding the decision, without giving further details.

Reuters, quoted by Jornal Económico, points out that this expression is usually used to refer to espionage.

Along with Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Greece and Romania also announced this week the expulsion of Russian diplomats because of the war in Ukraine.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Portuguese government announced the decision to expel ten employees of the Russian embassy in Portugal.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that the Portuguese government this afternoon notified the Ambassador of the Russian Federation of its decision to declare persona non grata ten employees of that diplomatic mission, whose activities are contrary to national security," according to a statement from the Palace of Necessities.

More than 230 Moscow diplomats have been expelled from the countries where they held office since February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine.

The wave of expulsions has intensified after several photographs of civilian bodies strewn in the streets of the Ukrainian city of Bucha were publicly revealed.