Russia Withdraws Ambassador to UK Amid Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine Support

Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, after seven years, as the Kremlin continues to pressure Britain over its support for Ukraine. The move comes after the UK supplied attack drones to Kyiv, prompting the Russian embassy to warn of "consequences" last week.

The embassy's list of senior diplomatic staff now only includes Vasily A. Tsyganov, chargé d’affaires. A former British defence attaché, John Foreman, speculated on X that Moscow might permanently downgrade relations due to severely deteriorated ties since 2018 and the war's start.

A spokesperson for the Russian embassy stated Kelin's mission ended on July 21, blaming the UK for the low state of relations. They also claimed Kelin left hoping for future constructive dialogue if the UK changes its policies. However, the embassy later denied intentions to downgrade diplomatic relations.

The UK Foreign Office responded, reaffirming support for Ukraine and stating the withdrawal is a matter for Russia. Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier who fought in Ukraine, noted that meaningful communication had already ceased, making the withdrawal less significant in practice.

Tensions escalated after the UK's supply of drones used against Russian targets. Kelin had repeated Kremlin narratives, including stating Russia "cannot lose" the war in a June Sky News interview.