Four senior Russian embassy officials have been expelled from the State.
Ambassador Yuri Filatov was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs earlier to inform him of the move.
The Government says it still believes diplomatic channels between Russia and Ireland should remain open.
But Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed some officials have been expelled:
The Russian Embassy in Ireland's described the move to expel officials as a groundless decision, which can only further deteriorate Russian-Ireland relations.
In a statement, it says those relations were already damaged by the Irish participation in what it calls illegitimate EU sanctions against Russia.
It goes on to say the Embassy proceeds on the assumption that such a step by the Irish side will not go unanswered.
