Russian Ambassador Kelin Criticises British Media and London’s Russia Policy

Kathmandu. Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin has criticised British media outlets and London’s policy toward Russia.

In an interview with the Zvezda TV channel, Ambassador Kelin accused most British media outlets of pursuing a policy aimed at discrediting Russia. According to him, the actions of the Russian military are portrayed as deliberate attacks on Ukrainian civilians, while atrocities committed by the Kiev regime against peaceful residents are ignored.

Kelin said the Russian Foreign Ministry had recently organised a visit for foreign correspondents to the site of a tragedy in Starobelsk. According to him, BBC journalists refused to take part in the visit without providing any explanation. Although a Reuters correspondent joined the trip, he said the agency’s subsequent coverage was notably detached.

In the interview, Kelin described the results of the United Kingdom’s local elections as a reflection of growing public dissatisfaction with the country’s socio-economic situation. He said inflation remains high, energy prices continue to rise, benefits are being cut and the National Health Service is under serious pressure. He added that the migration crisis has further aggravated these challenges.

Ambassador Kelin also said Britain’s preparations for war with Russia are more rhetorical than practical. Although British officials use strong language, he claimed the country’s armed forces continue to face serious systemic problems, including underfunding, ageing equipment, personnel shortages and issues within the military justice system.

He also criticised the United Kingdom’s decision to ban imports of refined Russian petroleum products from third countries. According to Kelin, the decision was driven by an inflated perception of Britain’s own political and economic influence. He said insufficient attention was paid to the fact that almost half of the diesel consumed in the UK is imported, while around 65 percent of aviation fuel comes from Gulf states.

Kelin claimed that London was eventually forced to indefinitely postpone the implementation of measures adopted under what he described as excessive support for Ukraine. His remarks indicate that tensions between Russia and the United Kingdom remain high over the Ukraine conflict and related sanctions policies.