The Portuguese government has announced that Russia is expelling five diplomats from its mission in Moscow; a day after the Kremlin ousted diplomats from Spain, France, and Italy.

Portugal claims that Russia has expelled its diplomats

The Portuguese Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Russia’s action was “unjustified”; and merely a retaliation for Portugal’s expulsion of Russian diplomats from its mission in Lisbon last month.

“Unlike the Russians who were expelled from Portugal, these Portuguese staff members were engaged in solely diplomatic responsibilities,” according to a statement from the Portuguese Foreign Ministry.