Russian Ambassador to U.K. Ends His Tenure

Sep. 1, 2026 Former Russian Ambassador to the U.K. Andrei Kelin. Video grab / Russian Embassy in London 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. Read more about: United Kingdom , Diplomacy , Foreign Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Lavrov Out of Favor With Putin?: Reports Force the Kremlin to Comment Reports that Putin was unhappy with Lavrov’s performance emerged after Trump called off his planned summit with the Russian leader in Budapest. 3 Min read Moscow Expels 6 British Diplomats Over Suspected Spying Russia's FSB accused the diplomats of "subversive activities and intelligence" gathering and "threatening Russia's security." 1 Min read Russia Calls U.K. Courts ‘A Farce’ Over Assange Case Russia often points to the Assange case to deflect criticism of its own judiciary. 1 Min read Russia Closes Baltic Consulates, Expels Staff The move comes in retaliation to similar Russian consulate closures by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.