The decision was made on security grounds.
Four senior Russian embassy officials have been expelled from the State.
The Russian 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.
However, the Russian Embassy in Ireland has described the move to expel officials as a groundless decision, which can only deteriorate further 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.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the decision to expel the officials is being done on security advice:
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