London, Aug 23 (V7N) – The Russian embassy in London has confirmed that Ambassador Andrei Kelin is no longer in post, holding Britain responsible for the deterioration of bilateral relations to what it described as "an unprecedentedly low level".

The confirmation came in a statement issued on Sunday following a report by The Sunday Times that Moscow had "withdrawn" its envoy to "force Britain to reconsider its support for Ukraine". Kelin, who had served as ambassador for over seven years, left his post on July 21. No successor has been named, and the embassy is currently headed by a chargé d'affaires.

The Russian embassy statement on Telegram stressed that it does not intend to downgrade the formal level of diplomatic relations. However, it added that relations "have deteriorated to an unprecedentedly low level entirely on London's initiative".

Escalating Tensions Over UK Support for Ukraine

The diplomatic void follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric after reports that British-made drones supplied to Ukraine were used in recent long-range strikes deep inside Russia. The Russian embassy in London subsequently accused Britain of becoming "an accomplice and co-perpetrator" of the attacks and of "deliberately opting for an escalation" in the conflict.

The embassy further warned that Britain would pay a "price" for its support, stating: "The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kiev's terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay".

A spokesman for the Russian embassy told The Sunday Times that Kelin had made efforts to preserve channels of communication with the UK and left "in the hope that a more constructive and respectful dialogue could eventually be restored, should the UK reconsider its policies towards our country".

UK Response

The UK Foreign Office described the ambassador's departure as a matter for Russia, while confirming that Britain maintains an ambassador and embassy in Moscow. The Foreign Office reiterated that it "continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, which has the right to defend itself against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion".

Britain has been one of Ukraine's strongest backers since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, committing approximately £25 billion ($33 billion) in support, including £16 billion in military aid. The UK was the first country to supply Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles and is known to have supplied two types of drones that have reportedly been used in recent strikes.

Strategic Implications

Analysts have warned that the absence of a replacement ambassador could lead to a further breakdown in communication between London and Moscow. Withdrawing an ambassador is a formal diplomatic mechanism for expressing severe displeasure without severing ties entirely.

The escalation reflects a broader Russian intimidation campaign against Ukraine's European allies as the war grinds on, with the Kremlin seeking to deter further international support for Kyiv while avoiding a direct military confrontation with NATO.

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