{"id":756602,"date":"2026-09-01T11:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T11:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/756602\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T11:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T11:34:11","slug":"russian-ambassador-to-u-k-ends-his-tenure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/756602\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian Ambassador to U.K. Ends His Tenure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russia\u2019s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday confirmed<\/a> the end of Ambassador Andrei Kelin\u2019s posting to Britain as it sought to downplay speculation over whether Moscow was downgrading diplomatic representation in London amid tensions over support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrei Vladimirovich Kelin has wrapped up his planned tenure as ambassador,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a weekly press briefing.<\/p>\n

She said President Vladimir Putin would appoint Kelin\u2019s replacement \u201cin due course,\u201d saying the process is \u201cmoving along at its own pace following the set procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zakharova urged against \u201cpoliticizing\u201d Kelin\u2019s exit, but noted that his tenure comes during an \u201cextremely difficult period\u201d in bilateral ties.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe worked hard to protect our country\u2019s interests and keep the lines of communication open. That was despite Britain\u2019s efforts to completely dismantle bilateral relations,\u201d she told reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Kelin\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires now heads the diplomatic mission until the appointment of a new ambassador.<\/p>\n

Kelin\u2019s departure<\/a> after more than seven years in the post prompted media speculation \u2014 denied<\/a> by the embassy \u2014 that Moscow was downgrading<\/a> diplomatic relations with Britain.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cconsequences\u201d for supplying drones that were used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory.<\/p>\n

Reuters contributed reporting.<\/p>\n

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