Russia has recalled its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, after more than seven years in the post, signaling a severe deterioration in bilateral relations as London continues to expand its military support for Ukraine, Yahoo reports.
Kelin departed his diplomatic post in London on July 21 without a successor being named by the Kremlin, leaving the Russian embassy to operate under the leadership of a chargé d’affaires. Embassy representatives stated that Kelin worked to maintain diplomatic touchpoints but warned that the British government is pursuing a confrontational trajectory.
The ambassador’s departure was initially announced at an internal event in June, though no public announcement was issued at the time.
The diplomatic withdrawal follows sharp warnings from Moscow regarding Britain’s deepening involvement in the conflict, including threats of unspecified consequences after British-manufactured drones were utilized in strikes on Russian territory.
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In statements published following the recall, Russian officials attributed the historic low in bilateral ties directly to policy decisions made by London, while asserting there is currently no formal attempt to permanently sever diplomatic relations.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responded by affirming that staffing decisions for the embassy remain a matter for Moscow, emphasizing that the United Kingdom maintains its own ambassadorial presence in the Russian capital to raise concerns directly. British officials reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion.
