Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday confirmed the end of Ambassador Andrei Kelin’s posting to Britain as it sought to downplay speculation over whether Moscow was downgrading diplomatic representation in London amid tensions over support for Ukraine.
“Andrei Vladimirovich Kelin has wrapped up his planned tenure as ambassador,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a weekly press briefing.
She said President Vladimir Putin would appoint Kelin’s replacement “in due course,” saying the process is “moving along at its own pace following the set procedures.”
Zakharova urged against “politicizing” Kelin’s exit, but noted that his tenure comes during an “extremely difficult period” in bilateral ties.
“He worked hard to protect our country’s interests and keep the lines of communication open. That was despite Britain’s efforts to completely dismantle bilateral relations,” she told reporters.
Kelin’s tenure between November 2019 and July 2026 spanned the Covid-19 pandemic, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a ban on Russian diplomats from entering the British parliament.
Russia’s chargé d’affaires now heads the diplomatic mission until the appointment of a new ambassador.
Kelin’s departure after more than seven years in the post prompted media speculation — denied by the embassy — that Moscow was downgrading diplomatic relations with Britain.
Britain is a leading ally of Ukraine and provides it with weapons including missiles and drones. Russia warned Britain last month that it would face unspecified “consequences” for supplying drones that were used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory.
Reuters contributed reporting.
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