Blinken: Russia will "force" State to fire 182 local embassy, consulate workers

• "We are deeply saddened that this action will force us to let go of 182 local employees and dozens of contractors at our diplomatic facilities in Moscow, Vladivostok, and Yekaterinburg."
• "These unfortunate measures will severely impact the U.S. mission to Russia’s operations, potentially including the safety of our personnel as well as our ability to engage in diplomacy with the Russian government," he noted.
• Blinken said the United States regrets the directive's impact on workers but will adhere in order to pursue a "predictable and stable relationship with Russia."

The big picture: After the United States discharged some Russian diplomats earlier this year, the Russian government barred non-Americans from working at the United States' three diplomatic missions, the AP reports.

• Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's arrest, American sanctions on Russia for the latter's interference in the 2020 election and alleged Russian involvement in cyberattacks on critical U.S. infrastructure all played a role in the decision making, per AP.