Russia had previously expelled 23 British diplomats before Saturday's announcement.

The latest expulsions were not unexpected. On Friday, Russia said it would limit the size of the British diplomatic mission to Russia to match that of Moscow's mission in Britain. However, no figures were given, as Britain does not publish rosters of its embassies and consulates for security reasons.

Britain is not alone in facing the Kremlin's retaliatory measures: 23 nations that supported Britain by expelling Russian diplomats were issued expulsion orders on Friday. Russia described those actions as mirror responses.

In total, 59 diplomats from Germany, France and a number of other European nations are to be expelled.

In the past week, 27 nations joined Britain in expelling Russian diplomats. NATO and Georgia have also followed suit. At least 150 Russian diplomatic workers across the world have been handed expulsion orders.

The United States led the expulsion count with 60 Russian diplomats and added to its measures the closing of Russian Consulate in Seattle. Russia responded, expelling 60 American diplomats and ordering the US Consulate in St. Petersburg closed.

Tensions between Russia and Britain continue to escalate beyond the diplomatic realm. On Friday night, the Russian Embassy in London said that an Aeroflot flight from London to Moscow was stopped for a search by British authorities. Russia has threatened to conduct similar searches of British Airways flights.

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Office has said it is considering granting Russia's repeated requests for access to Yulia Skripal, daughter of former spy Sergei Skripal. Both were reported in critical condition after the March 4 attack.

British authorities said on Thursday evening that Yulia's condition was rapidly improving. Her father was described as still being in critical though stable condition.