<p>Russian authorities removed three US diplomats from a train in the Arctic shipyard city of Severodvinsk, news agencies reported Wednesday, citing an "informed source".</p>.<p>The US State Department confirmed the visit but said the diplomats were on an official trip and had informed the Russian authorities.</p>.<p>The diplomats were on Monday taken off a train running to Severodvinsk from Nyonoksa, the site of a missile test blast that saw a radiation spike last August, reported Interfax news agency.</p>.<p>The trio, including a naval attache and a defence attache, were removed from the train in Severodvinsk station at around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) after document checks and then released, Interfax said.</p>.<p>TASS news agency, citing a source from the law enforcement authorities, said the diplomats were suspected of breaching rules on foreigners visiting controlled zones.</p>.<p>Severodvinsk does not allow foreigners to visit freely, TASS noted.</p>.<p>"The American diplomats were on official travel and had properly notified Russian authorities of their travel," a State Department spokesperson told AFP.</p>.<p>Some Russian cities, particularly those involved in military and nuclear activities, only allow foreigners to visit with special permits.</p>.<p>Severodvinsk is an Arctic port with a naval shipyard that builds nuclear submarines.</p>.<p>Nearby Nyonoksa is a missile testing site on the coast of the White Sea. On August 8, an explosion there killed five people working for Russia's nuclear agency.</p>.<p>The blast briefly caused radiation levels in Severodvinsk to rise to more than 16 times background levels, Russian officials said, while denying any danger to public health.</p>.<p>Relations between Moscow and Washington have been battered by accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.</p>.<p>Although President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have sought to improve bilateral ties, they remain strained.</p>.<p>Russia last month hit out at Washington for denying visas to a Russian delegation due to attend the UN General Assembly.</p>
<p>Russian authorities removed three US diplomats from a train in the Arctic shipyard city of Severodvinsk, news agencies reported Wednesday, citing an "informed source".</p>.<p>The US State Department confirmed the visit but said the diplomats were on an official trip and had informed the Russian authorities.</p>.<p>The diplomats were on Monday taken off a train running to Severodvinsk from Nyonoksa, the site of a missile test blast that saw a radiation spike last August, reported Interfax news agency.</p>.<p>The trio, including a naval attache and a defence attache, were removed from the train in Severodvinsk station at around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) after document checks and then released, Interfax said.</p>.<p>TASS news agency, citing a source from the law enforcement authorities, said the diplomats were suspected of breaching rules on foreigners visiting controlled zones.</p>.<p>Severodvinsk does not allow foreigners to visit freely, TASS noted.</p>.<p>"The American diplomats were on official travel and had properly notified Russian authorities of their travel," a State Department spokesperson told AFP.</p>.<p>Some Russian cities, particularly those involved in military and nuclear activities, only allow foreigners to visit with special permits.</p>.<p>Severodvinsk is an Arctic port with a naval shipyard that builds nuclear submarines.</p>.<p>Nearby Nyonoksa is a missile testing site on the coast of the White Sea. On August 8, an explosion there killed five people working for Russia's nuclear agency.</p>.<p>The blast briefly caused radiation levels in Severodvinsk to rise to more than 16 times background levels, Russian officials said, while denying any danger to public health.</p>.<p>Relations between Moscow and Washington have been battered by accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.</p>.<p>Although President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have sought to improve bilateral ties, they remain strained.</p>.<p>Russia last month hit out at Washington for denying visas to a Russian delegation due to attend the UN General Assembly.</p>