Russia withdraws ambassador to UK amid rising pressure over Ukraine support
Russia quietly withdrew its ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, last month after seven years in the post, with no successor yet named. The move follows sharpened rhetoric from Moscow after Britain's supply of attack drones to Ukraine came to light.
Russia withdrew its ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, last month after seven years in the role, and has given no indication whether a replacement will be appointed. Kelin's name has disappeared from the diplomatic list on the Russian embassy's website, which now lists only Vasily Tsyganov as chargé d'affaires.
Rising tensions
The departure comes amid escalating tension between London and Moscow. Last week the Russian embassy warned of "consequences" after it emerged that Britain was supplying attack drones to Ukraine. UK Ministry of Defence sources confirmed that two drones made by British companies had been used by Ukraine's military to strike targets inside Russia. The embassy stated on Telegram that London's actions would inevitably carry consequences it would have to answer for.
John Foreman, a former British defence attache in Moscow and Kyiv, said a gap between ambassadors was not unprecedented, but questioned whether Moscow might use the situation to permanently downgrade relations by simply not naming a successor.
A Russian embassy spokesperson told the Sunday Times that Kelin had worked to preserve communication channels with the UK, while accusing the British government of choosing confrontation. The spokesperson said Kelin hoped a more constructive dialogue could eventually resume if the UK reconsidered its policies, adding that the Kremlin had not yet put forward a replacement candidate.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said the matter was for Russia's foreign ministry to address, noting that Britain maintains an ambassador and embassy in Moscow to raise concerns, and reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine's right to defend itself against Russia's invasion.
Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier who fought alongside Ukrainian marines before being captured and held by Russian forces, said some might view Kelin's exit as a dangerous erosion of communication, but argued that genuine diplomatic engagement from Moscow had effectively been absent for some time. Kelin has repeatedly echoed Kremlin narratives in British media interviews, including a June statement that Russia could not lose the war.
