After Washington expelled a pair of Russian diplomats, Russia responded in the same manner and ordered two U.S. military attachés at the American Embassy in Moscow to leave the country in a series of moves that resembled the Cold War era, officials confirmed on Thursday.

"We can confirm that the two individuals have been asked to leave. We object to this action but we will comply with the Russian government's request," said Gonzalo Gallegos, a U.S. State Department spokesman.

Officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry wouldn’t comment on the matter.

It all started with the expulsion of a New York-based Russian diplomat on Nov. 6, 2007, followed by the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat from Moscow on April 14 and another one of
a Washington-based Russian diplomat on April 22. Then followed the expulsions ordered by Russia on April 28.

However, U.S. officials said there is no link between the expulsions made by the Americans and those of the Russians. One official, who wouldn’t reveal his name, labeled them as "separate incidents."

"We're not making any particular connection between the expulsion of these two individuals and any previous steps that we might have taken," said Sean McCormack, spokesman for the State Department.

"As far as we're concerned, we don't intend to take any further actions. We always reserve the right, but at this point I don't see that we're going to take any further action in response," he added.

The reason of the expulsions wasn’t released, but officials said in a statement that the military attachés were declared "persona non grata" and accused of espionage.

The expulsions come on a background of uncertainty in the U.S.-Russian relations following the anointing of new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the nomination of Vladimir Putin as Prime Minister.