The Russian ambassador leaves London amid historical tensions between the two countries

Russia has confirmed the end of its ambassador's mission to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Moscow and London. The diplomat reportedly left his post on July 21, but his departure had not been officially announced until the Sunday Times revealed it.

The Russian mission in London is now headed by a chargé d'affaires. No successor has yet been appointed, fueling speculation about the future of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Moscow maintains, however, that this change does not reflect a formal intention to downgrade its relations with the United Kingdom.

The Russian embassy accuses British authorities of having chosen "the path of confrontation" and places full responsibility for the deterioration of bilateral relations on them. According to the embassy, ​​relations between the two powers have reached a historically low point across all sectors.

British support for Ukraine at the heart of the break

Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, London has established itself as one of Kyiv's main supporters. The United Kingdom has reportedly committed nearly £25 billion, or approximately €29 billion, to Ukraine. Of this sum, £16 billion is for military aid.

The Foreign Office declined to comment directly on Andrei Kelin's departure. British diplomats reiterated, however, that they maintain an ambassador and a representation in Moscow to ensure continued communication with the Russian authorities. London also emphasized Ukraine's right to defend itself against the Russian offensive.

Tensions escalated further following reports that Ukrainian forces had used British drones to conduct deep strikes on Russian territory. Moscow threatened London with consequences, without specifying their nature. The ambassador's departure therefore does not constitute an official diplomatic break, but it illustrates the political collapse of a relationship now reduced to minimal exchanges and mutual accusations.