Russia withdraws ambassador from UK amid Ukraine war tensions

Published Aug 23, 10:51 AM UTC

Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, who left his post on July 21 after seven years, and has not submitted any replacement to the Foreign Office. The move escalates tensions over Britain's role in the Ukraine war, following Moscow's outrage at the confirmed use of British drones by Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. The Russian embassy in London warned Britain would face 'consequences,' while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed full support for Ukraine, stating the UK is not a 'fair weather friend.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened to regard British missile involvement in strikes as participation in the war, with all resulting consequences. Embassy staff have no clear timeline for filling the ambassador role, raising fears of a diplomatic communication breakdown. The Kremlin has previously threatened to downgrade relations with the UK over its support for Ukraine since the 2022 invasion.