WARSAW, (Reuters) –Poland has expelling 45 Russian diplomats believed to have been working for Russian intelligence. The foreign ministry announced Wednesday.

Russia denied the charges.

Although relations between Russia and Central European nations that were once part of Russia’s sphere of influence are fraught, the invading of Ukraine has raised suspicions and fear about Moscow’s motives.

Lukasz Jasina from the Foreign Ministry stated that “In total 45 persons with varying diplomatic status… were directed to leave the territory of Republic of Poland in 5 days.”

A second person was allowed to go home for 48 hours, he said.

Russia is our neighbor, it won’t disappear from Europe’s map, but its aggression toward Ukraine shows that it is unfriendly and hostile to Poland.

He said that the 45 expelled diplomats represented approximately half of all those working at the Embassy.

Stanislaw Zaryn, Special Services spokesperson, told reporters earlier that 45 individuals had been identified as Russian agents by the Polish Internal Security Agency.

At the foreign ministry, the Russian ambassador in Warsaw was summoned. He stated that the allegations against officials are unfounded.

They will be required to leave. “This is the sovereign decision of the Polish side, and they have to make their decision,” Ambassador Sergey Andreev said to reporters from the ministry.

Andreev stated that Russia is also entitled to further actions, although he did not elaborate on what they might be.

The decision of Poland to expulse diplomats is similar to those taken in Bulgaria and the Baltic States.