US President Obama Orders 35 Russian intelligence operatives to leave the country as part of sanctions Thursday Dec 29,2016

US President Obama launched a Cold War strike on the Kremlin and its spies on Thursday Dec 29,2016, accusing them of hacking the presidential election on orders from Vladimir Putin.

He ordered 35 Russian intelligence operatives to leave the country as part of sanctions ordered for what he said where the country's attempts to 'interfere with democratic governance' and harassment of U.S. diplomatic officials in Russia.

Thirty-five Russian operatives were declared 'persona non grata' in a Cold War-style move that is likely to be followed by tit-for-tat action by the Kremlin. The Russians that were personally targeted have 72 hours to leave the country and must be gone by Sunday Dec 31,2016

And he launched a scathing attack on Putin's Kremlin in an official announcement of sanctions over allegations of hacking in the run-up to the presidential elections.

Obama all but named the Russian strongman in his statement - saying hacking was 'ordered at the highest level'. 

That prompted an angry response from the Kremlin which promised an 'appropriate' retaliation - while its London embassy tweeted a picture mocking him as a 'lame duck'.

This was how Russia's embassy in London responded to the sanctions announcement, mocking Obama as a lame duck president

The Moscow headquarters of the FSB, known popularly as the Lubyanka, has been used for espionage for generations. It was where Stalin's purges were directed from

 

The sanctions identified the GRU - whose Moscow headquarters have been visited by Putin and which reveals in its bat logo - as the prosecutors of the hacking Obama says led to the publication of the Democrats' secrets 

Obama declares 35 Russian intelligence operatives 'persona non grata' in a Cold War measure 

He also closed two 'compounds' - one in New York, the other in Maryland - saying they were used for intelligence purposes by the Russians

Economic sanctions are being put in place on Putin's spy agencies, the FSB and the GRU, as well as named officers and companies they are said to have used 

President acted after accusing Russia of orchestrating hacking in run-up to the presidential election, which saw Democratic secrets published 

Trump says it is 'time for our country to move on to bigger and better things' - but WILL meet intelligence bosses next week for update 

Hillary Clinton has blamed Vladimir Putin's  'personal beef' against her for the hacking of her operatives and the publication of embarrassing secrets

Kremlin calls claims of hacking 'lies' and says there will be an 'appropriate' response - and its London embassy tweeted a duck with caption 'lame'