Russia has confirmed the withdrawal of its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, marking a new low in already strained bilateral relations. Kelin completed his seven-year diplomatic mission on July 21, and Moscow has yet to name a successor. For now, the embassy in London is being run by the chargé d’affaires, Vasily A. Tsyganov.

The Russian Foreign Ministry framed the decision as a response to Britain’s deliberate choice of “confrontation,” specifically citing London’s support for Ukraine. The move was seen as a direct reaction to reports that Ukrainian forces used British-supplied drones in attacks deep inside Russian territory. Moscow had previously warned of “consequences” and stated that Britain would “pay the price” for its involvement.

While the Russian embassy clarified that the withdrawal does not necessarily signal an official downgrade in diplomatic relations, both sides have described the current state of ties as “historically low.” The UK Foreign Office responded by calling the matter an internal Russian affair, while reiterating that Britain would continue to stand firmly with Ukraine.

The United Kingdom has been one of Kyiv’s most vocal backers, committing roughly £25 billion ($33 billion) in overall assistance. The ambassador’s recall is widely interpreted as a strong symbolic gesture of displeasure, though it remains unclear when or if a new Russian envoy will be appointed to London.