Vladimir Putin is escalating intimidation tactics against Britain in the diplomatic sphere as his war in Ukraine enters a deadly new phase.
The Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, who had been the representative in London since 2019, was withdrawn from his post last month.
Moscow has submitted no candidates to replace him and embassy staff reportedly have no knowledge of when his successor might be appointed.
It is only the latest development in a relationship between London and Moscow that has already sunk close to rock-bottom. The new reports follow threats last week from Putin’s government of “consequences” in retaliation for Britain supplying drones to Ukraine that have been used to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.
After news of the British drones emerged, the Russian embassy to the UK posted a statement from Putin’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, warning: “We have the right to regard the announced involvement of British forces in strikes against Russia as participation in the war, with all the consequences that entails.”
