▲ Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the UK, who was recently recalled to Moscow.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to the United Kingdom, expressing strong dissatisfaction with Britain's support for Ukraine.
According to a report by the UK's The Times on the 23rd (local time), the Russian government recently recalled Andrei Kelin, the Russian ambassador to the UK.
Ambassador Kelin stepped down from his post on the 21st of last month, but the Russian government has not yet named a successor to replace him.
Staff at the Russian Embassy in the UK are also reported to have received no indication of when a new ambassador will be appointed.
The Times noted that concerns are rising over a de facto downgrading of diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia due to the vacant ambassador post, alongside worries about a potential complete breakdown in communication between the two countries.
However, the Russian Embassy in the UK told The Times that it is inappropriate to link Ambassador Kelin's departure with any intention by Russia to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain.
At the same time, the embassy claimed that "bilateral relations are currently at an unprecedentedly low level," adding that "the deterioration of relations between the two countries across all areas is entirely the fault of British actions."
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Russia's relations have chilled not only with the UK but also with the vast majority of European Union (EU) member states.
However, ties appear to have worsened further following reports last week that Ukraine used British-supplied drones to attack targets inside Russia.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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