Russia recalls ambassador from London as UK backs Ukraine

LONDON: Diplomatic tensions between Russia and Britain have deepened after Moscow ended the posting of its ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, amid worsening relations over the war in Ukraine.

The Russian Embassy in London confirmed that Kelin is no longer serving as ambassador. He reportedly left the post on July 21, but Moscow has yet to announce a successor, leaving the key diplomatic position vacant at a particularly tense moment in relations between the two countries.

The move has immediately drawn attention because Britain remains one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in its war against Russia. London has provided billions of pounds in assistance to Kyiv, including substantial military support, while repeatedly stressing its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

The Russian Embassy said relations between Moscow and London had reached an exceptionally low point and blamed Britain for the deterioration. At the same time, Moscow stressed that the ambassador’s departure should not be interpreted as a complete break in diplomatic relations.

Britain, meanwhile, appeared keen to keep diplomatic channels open.

The UK Foreign Office described the decision to end Kelin’s posting as a matter for the Russian Foreign Ministry. British officials said the UK would continue communicating with the Russian government through its ambassador and embassy in Moscow.

The diplomatic setback comes as tensions over the battlefield continue to spill into the wider relationship between Moscow and London.

Russia has repeatedly accused Britain of playing a major role in supporting Ukraine, particularly through military assistance, intelligence cooperation and other forms of defence support. Moscow has also warned that continued Western involvement could have consequences.

More recently, Russia has raised concerns over the alleged use of British-made drones in attacks inside Russian territory. Moscow has warned that Britain could face consequences if weapons or equipment supplied by London are used in strikes against targets inside Russia.

The developments come as Ukraine has stepped up long-range attacks against Russian targets, while Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including against the capital Kyiv.

The diplomatic temperature between Moscow and London has therefore risen alongside the intensity of the conflict.

Despite the ambassadorial change, neither side has announced a formal severing of diplomatic relations. That distinction remains significant, as maintaining embassies and official communication channels provides both governments with a limited avenue for dialogue during the crisis.

For Britain, the challenge is balancing its strong military and political support for Ukraine with the need to maintain basic diplomatic communication with Moscow. For Russia, the departure of its ambassador sends a powerful political signal about the depth of its dissatisfaction with London.

With the war continuing and both sides exchanging increasingly serious warnings, Kelin’s departure is likely to be viewed as another sign of how far UK-Russia relations have deteriorated since the conflict began.