The Russian embassy in London has confirmed that Ambassador Andrey Kelin departed his post last month, leaving the embassy without a formal ambassador. The Russian government has not yet announced a successor, and the embassy’s official list of senior diplomatic staff currently identifies Vasily A. Tsyganov as the chargé d’affaires.

This diplomatic shift coincides with a period of heightened friction between Moscow and London. The Russian embassy recently issued a public warning regarding potential “consequences” following reports that the United Kingdom is supplying attack drones to the Ukrainian military. While the Russian government has framed its pressure as a response to British involvement in the ongoing conflict, the British government maintains that its support for Kyiv is a necessary response to Russian aggression.

Diplomatic experts note that while gaps between ambassadorial appointments are not entirely unprecedented, the timing of this vacancy reflects the increasingly strained nature of the bilateral relationship. The Kremlin has been vocal in its criticism of Western military aid, and the absence of a high-level diplomatic representative in London is viewed by many analysts as a signal of Russia’s intent to further downgrade formal communication channels with the UK government.