Russia said on Thursday that it will close Sweden’s consulate in St Petersburg and its own mission in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city, and expelled five Swedish diplomats in retaliation for Stockholm’s expulsion of five Russians last month.

Stockholm said last month that the diplomats had been removed due to espionage concerns. The expulsions were described as a “openly hostile step” by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

It said it had withdrawn its consent for the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg from September.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a statement the news was “very regrettable” and “further confirmation of the negative political development in Russia and the country’s international isolation”.

“Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and conducted customary diplomatic activities in Russia. We also deeply regret the Russian announcement about the Consulate General in St Petersburg,” he said.

Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year announced its intention to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian statement said ties had “reached an unprecedented low”.