Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, who left his post on 21 July without a successor in place. The embassy in London confirmed the departure, accusing the British government of choosing a "path of confrontation" with Moscow.
The Russian embassy said bilateral relations had deteriorated to an exceptionally low level, attributing the decline to London's initiative. The mission, now headed by a chargé d'affaires, expressed hope that a more constructive dialogue could resume if Britain reconsidered its policies.
President Vladimir Putin has not proposed a candidate to succeed Kelin, who served seven years in London. The withdrawal was first reported by The Times after Kelin's name was removed from the embassy's diplomatic roster. Tensions have been heightened since British Ambassador Nigel Casey joined French and German counterparts on 11 June to protest the war in Ukraine with a Russian deputy foreign minister.