Russian Embassy to the UK

82 years ago today, the crew of the Soviet submarine V-1, led by Hero of the Soviet Union Captain 2nd rank Izrail Fisanovich, perished northeast of the Scottish coast due to a tragic error by a British RAF pilot. The submarine had previously been transferred to the USSR as part of the reparations settlement following Italy's surrender and withdrawal from the war. The Soviet crew was tasked with transportation of the boat from the Scottish city of Dundee to the Soviet Union. On July 27, 1944, while sailing along a designated route, the submarine was sunk by a British bomber. The pilot had mistaken the vessel for a German submarine. A monument honouring the submarine's crew was erected in Dundee in 2009. It forms part of the International Submarine Memorial dedicated to sailors from the nations of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. Diplomats of the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh regularly visit the monument to pay tribute to the heroic submariners.

🎙 Highlights from President Vladimir Putin's remarks at a meeting with Navy personnel • Attempts to isolate Russia, even in such a sensitive area as defence and security, have ended in complete failure. There are a large number of countries that maintain friendly relations with Russia and understand the objectives we are pursuing in terms of ensuring our security and strengthening a multipolar world. • We are open to cooperation [in the Arctic], but we will certainly protect our interests – just as we do with the Northern Sea Route, because the most efficient and economically viable route runs largely through our territorial waters or Russia’s exclusive economic zone. • We did not start any war. We only began responding to the hostilities – to the war that was unleashed by the current Kiev regime backed by the West against south-eastern Ukraine, a region that has always looked to Russia. • Units of Ukraine's armed forces that they regard as distinguished are named after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and Nazi war criminals are being reinterred. I have heard many times that Ukraine is searching for its identity. But the question is: why should that identity be based on Nazism and neo-Nazism?

🕯 July 27 marks the Day of Remembrance for the Child Victims of the War in Donbass. This tragic commemorative date was established in 2022 to honour the memory of the children whose lives were taken by the war launched by the Kiev regime in 2014. Since 2014, Ukrainian militants have waged full-scale hostilities against civilians in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Over these years, around 300 children have been killed and more than 1,000 injured. Among the first child victims of the war in Donbass was 10-month-old Kira. She was killed together with her mother during the shelling of Gorlovka in the summer of 2014. Their story, known as the “Madonna of Gorlovka,” became a symbol of the tragedy endured by the civilian population of Donbass. Each pair of children’s shoes in this memorial represents a life cut short far too soon. #WeRemember #NoStatuteOfLimitations © DPR InfoSchool

⚓️ Today Russia marks Navy Day, honouring a naval tradition that stretches back more than three centuries. Founded by Peter the Great, the Russian Navy was shaped by generations of distinguished commanders, among them Admirals Fyodor Ushakov and Pavel Nakhimov, whose courage and service left a lasting mark on history. On this day, we also remember those who never returned home. Russian sailors who fulfilled their duty at sea and lost their lives far from their homeland are buried around the world, including here in Britain – in Great Yarmouth, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Guernsey and elsewhere. Their graves stand as enduring reminders of the shared maritime history that has long connected our nations.

🎨 We continue our series exploring Russian history through famous works of art. This time, we look at the 17th century – from the turbulent Time of Troubles to the transformative reign of Peter the Great. 🖼 Karl Wenig. The Last Minutes of Grigory Otrepiev (1879) Depicts the dramatic end of False Dmitry I, one of the most famous pretenders during the Time of Troubles, whose brief reign ended in 1606. 🖼 Nikolai Nevrev. Zakhary Lyapunov & Vasily Shuisky (1886) Shows the overthrow of Tsar Vasily Shuisky in 1610, as Russia faced political turmoil, foreign intervention and competing claims to the throne. 🖼 Vasily Demidov. The Liberation of Moscow by Prince Pozharsky and Citizen Minin (1836) Commemorates the liberation of Moscow in 1612 by the Second People's Militia led by Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. 🖼 Grigory Ugryumov. The Election of Michael Romanov as Tsar on March 14, 1613 Illustrates the election of Michael Romanov, marking the beginning of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia until 1917. 🖼 Grigory Sedov. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Chooses his Bride (1882) Portrays Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, whose reign strengthened the Russian state and whose son from his second marriage became Peter the Great. 🖼 Mikhail Khmelko. Forever with Moscow, Forever with the Russian People (1951) Depicts the events surrounding the Pereyaslav Council of 1654, when the Zaporozhian Cossacks accepted Russian sovereignty. 🖼 Nikolai Sverchkov. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich's Departure to Review Troops in 1664 (1864) Reflects the military campaigns of the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667), which reshaped the political map of Eastern Europe. 🖼 Sergei Kirillov. Stepan Razin (1985–1988) Depicts the famous Cossack leader whose uprising became one of the largest popular revolts of the 17th century. 🖼 Nikolai Dmitriev-Orenburgsky. The Streletsky Revolt (1862) Illustrates the 1682 Streltsy uprising, which brought Ivan V and Peter I to the throne under the regency of their sister Sophia. 🖼 Abraham Stork. Russian Tsar Peter I on his Way to the Newly Built Frigate ‘Peter and Paul’ (c. 1700) Captures Peter I at the dawn of his reforms, inspired by the knowledge and experience he gained during the Grand Embassy to Western Europe. © Gateway to Russia

🗓 On 23 July, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of ASEAN ministerial meetings in Manila [...] When talking on the Ukraine issue, Sergey Lavrov informed his American colleague about the real situation on the contact line, highlighting the inadmissibility of the continued supply of weapons to the Kiev regime and the destabilising activities of European countries, which are still seeking to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia. Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness for a political and diplomatic settlement in Ukraine and its commitment to the proposals put forward by the United States at the meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Anchorage, which the Russian leader has accepted. Read in full 📸 Russian MFA

🥇 Online Course “The Road to Victory” The online course “The Road to Victory” is an educational project marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The project explores the key events of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War, the role of the USSR in the defeat of Nazism, international diplomacy, the heroism of the Soviet people, and the preservation of historical memory. The online course is intended to preserve the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War, promote academically grounded knowledge about the events of the Second World War, and foster a greater understanding of the decisive contribution made by the Soviet people to the Victory over Nazism. The course was developed by the HSE University and the BRICS-Russia Expert Council, with support from the BRICS Civil Council. *** Watch the series in English. 👇 Episode 1 – The World on the Eve of the Second World War. The USSR and the Struggle for Collective Security Episode 2 – The Terrifying Face of Nazism: The Genocide of Peoples, Crimes Against Human Beings and Humanity Episode 3 – The Sacred War: Mobilizing the Soviet People to Fight the Invader Episode 4 – The Unconquered: The Role of the Defenders of Leningrad and Moscow in Foiling Operation Barbarossa Episode 5 – "My Part in the Front-Line Report": Stalingrad, Kursk, and the Home Front Episode 6 – The Childless Face of War: Children and Women During the Great Patriotic War Episode 7 – Guerrilla Warfare: Operation Concert Episode 8 – The Fronts of the Second World War. The Resistance Movement Episode 9 – The Anti-Hitler Coalition and Its Contribution to the Defeat of Nazism Episode 10 – The "Russian Soldier": The Liberation of Europe and the Far East Episode 11 – The Nuremberg Trials and the Post-War World Order Episode 12 – The Legacy of the Second World War: Why Manipulate Memory? 📺 “The Road to Victory” – YouTube page 📂 Download the video files in HD

🎙 Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to media questions following the Russia-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Manila, 22 July 2026) 💬 Russia and ASEAN are experiencing both the positive and the negative consequences of the current global changes. The defining process is the emergence of a stable, fair and multipolar world order. However, this objective course of history is being fiercely resisted by those who have dominated international affairs in various forms over the past five centuries, whether through colonialism or slavery. Those seeking to obstruct the emergence of a multipolar world order based on equality and mutually beneficial cooperation essentially maintain the same position as during the eras of colonialism and slavery: they seek to prosper at the expense of others.

🗳 Граждане России смогут проголосовать на выборах в Государственную Думу на территории Британии 20 сентября состоится голосование на выборах депутатов Государственной Думы Федерального Собрания Российской Федерации. Для проведения голосования на территории Соединённого Королевства образован избирательный участок № 8061 в Посольстве России в Лондоне. Он будет работать 20 сентября с 8:00 до 20:00 по местному времени. 📍 Адрес: 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QP Дополнительная информация о порядке голосования и других организационных вопросах будет опубликована позднее. Следите за нашими обновлениями.

🎙 Комментарий Посла России в Великобритании Андрея Келина для газеты «Известия» (21 июля 2026 года) ❓ По итогам встречи «коалиции желающих» в Париже принято решение о проведении учений в Польше. Согласно заявлениям, их цель – отработка будущей миротворческой миссии на Украине. Являются ли данные учения подготовкой к вводу войск «коалиции» на Украину? Какова позиция России по поводу планируемых учений?   💬 Не думаю, что предстоящие «сборы» в Польше выльются во что-то масштабное. В текущих обстоятельствах нашим недоброжелателям требуется некая показная акция, которая бы продемонстрировала их решительность и единство в деле борьбы с пресловутой «российской угрозой». На Западе могут сколько угодно говорить о планах по развёртыванию т.н. Многонациональных сил для Украины после прекращения огня, о готовности «коалиции» оказывать содействие в деле сдерживания России «на суше, в воздухе и на море», о проведении соответствующих учений. Позиция Москвы в данном отношении остаётся неизменной – размещение на украинской территории иностранных контингентов и военных баз абсолютно неприемлемо.

🕵🏻‍♂️🎬 On 19 July 1935, Vasily Livanov – one of the most distinguished Soviet and Russian actors – was born. For millions of viewers worldwide, Livanov became the definitive Sherlock Holmes. His portrayal of the English detective in the Soviet series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1979–1986) was praised for its elegance, intelligence and faithfulness to Arthur Conan Doyle’s character. When the series was shown on British television in the 1980s, it received great appreciation from audiences. Livanov later recalled being told the words of Conan Doyle’s daughter:

If my father had seen this Russian Sherlock Holmes, he would have been delighted.

In 2006, Livanov was awarded an honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire at the British Embassy in Moscow. The honour was presented on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II by Ambassador Tony Brenton, in recognition of his contribution to the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and to cultural ties between Russia and the UK. In 2007, a monument to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson was unveiled near the British Embassy in Moscow. The sculptures bear the likeness of Livanov and Vitaly Solomin, who brought the iconic detective duo to life in the acclaimed Soviet adaptation.

🗓 On this day in 1909, one of the Soviet Union's most outstanding diplomats Andrey Gromyko was born. He served as the USSR's Foreign Minister for 28 years (1957–1985), helping shape Soviet foreign policy throughout the Cold War. Gromyko played a central role in East–West diplomacy, represented the Soviet Union at the highest-level international conferences of the Second World War, contributed to the founding of the United Nations, and later took part in negotiations that led to landmark arms control agreements. There is also a British chapter to his career. In 1952–53, Gromyko served as the Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom, living and working in London during the premiership of Winston Churchill. He later returned to Britain several times as Foreign Minister, holding talks with Harold Wilson and James Callaghan during the era of détente. Throughout the Cold War, he remained a familiar figure in British diplomatic circles, playing an important role in maintaining dialogue between London and Moscow despite profound political differences.

🎨 Last time, we explored Medieval Russia. Today, we step into the 16th century – a time when Russia expanded its borders, Moscow and London established their first diplomatic and trade ties, and the country entered a new chapter under Ivan IV, as portrayed by artists. 🖼 Unknown artist, Battle of Orsha, 8 September 1514 (1520–1534) The struggle between the Russian state and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania shaped the balance of power in Eastern Europe and ultimately led to the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 🖼 Ilya Repin, Ivan IV and His Son Ivan, November 16, 1581 (1883–1885) One of Russia's most famous paintings portrays the legendary moment when the tsar is said to have fatally wounded his heir. 🖼 Pavel Sokolov-Skalya, Ivan the Terrible's Capture of the Livonian Fortress of Kokenhausen (1937–1943) The Livonian War initially brought major victories, as Russian forces advanced deep into present-day Latvia and Estonia. 🖼 Karl Bryullov, The Siege of Pskov by the Polish King Stefan Batory in 1581 (1843) Although Pskov withstood the siege, Russia ultimately lost its gains in Livonia after years of exhausting warfare. 🖼 Nikolai Nevrev, Oprichniki (1890s) The painting depicts one of the darkest episodes of Ivan IV's reign—the terror unleashed by the tsar's personal guard against those suspected of treason. 🖼 Alexander Novoskoltsev, The Last Minutes of Metropolitan Philip (1889) Metropolitan Philip, a vocal critic of the oprichnina, was executed after openly opposing the tsar's policies. 🖼 Alexander Litovchenko, Ivan the Terrible Shows Treasures to the English Ambassador Horsey (1875) The arrival of English merchants in the 1550s opened a new chapter in Anglo-Russian trade and diplomacy. 🖼 Vasily Surikov, The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak (1895) Yermak's campaign against the Siberian Khanate paved the way for Russia's expansion across Siberia. 🖼 Pyotr Shamshin, The Entry of Ivan IV into Kazan (1894) Ivan IV's conquest of Kazan in 1552 marked a turning point in Russia's expansion beyond the Volga. 🖼 Mikhail Nesterov, Murdered Tsarevich Dmitry (1899) The mysterious death of Ivan IV's youngest son marked the end of the Rurik dynasty and ushered in the turbulent Time of Troubles. © Gateway to Russia

💼 Today marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of prominent Soviet diplomat Maxim Litvinov. Prior to joining the Soviet diplomatic elite, Litvinov spent several years in Britain, where he met and married British writer Ivy Low. In 1918, he became the first representative of the newly established Soviet government in London. In the 1920s, he contributed greatly to the international recognition of the Soviet Union, helping to bring an end to its isolation. He later served as the Soviet ambassador to the US during the Second World War Litvinov was widely regarded by his contemporaries as a diplomat who firmly defended his country's interests while remaining committed to dialogue and international cooperation. His words, spoken during a League of Nations session in 1935, still reflect Russia's approach to international relations:

Peace is indivisible... It is time to recognise that there can be no security in one's own peace and tranquillity if the peace of one's neighbors — near and far alike — is not secured.

💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: Russia and China hold closely aligned and often identical positions on most global and regional issues. These include preserving global strategic stability, controlling arms, combatting terrorism and addressing other emerging threats and challenges. Alongside our Chinese friends, we advocate the political and diplomatic resolution of conflicts by addressing their root causes. We strongly oppose "regime change" policies, the application of double standards and the use of unilateral sanctions. This stance is particularly important in the current international climate, where certain Western states are seeking to dismantle the UN-centred international legal order in an effort to preserve their own dominance by acting in a neocolonial manner [...] We highly value China's constructive and balanced position on Ukraine. This stance is based on a profound understanding of the origins of the crisis and the ways to achieve a political resolution by identifying and addressing its underlying causes. Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's article "A constant in an era of radical change: On the 25th anniversary of the Russian-Chinese Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation", 16 July 2026

⚡️ Statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry on the killing of the Chief Engineer of the Zaporozhskaya NPP Alexander Yakovlev by the armed forces of Ukraine (July 15, 2026) On July 15, Ukraine committed yet another gruesome crime. A deliberate Ukrainian UAV strike on a Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP) service vehicle tragically killed the plant’s Chief Engineer Alexander Yakovlev, whose professional duties were directly related to ensuring nuclear safety and nuclear security of the facility, which is regularly subjected to Ukrainian attacks and provocations. ◾️ The driver was also killed in the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed. This criminal act by Kiev is yet another attempt to threaten the safe operation of the ZNPP and intimidate its personnel. The Nazi–Bandera regime is under the illusion that it can pressure our country in this way, while simultaneously blackmailing its Western patrons into providing ever more money and weapons. For their part, Western countries remain prepared to encourage the Ukrainian authorities, regardless of how reckless their actions become, thereby making themselves complicit in the crimes of the Kiev junta. ❗️ The extreme danger posed by the presence of the Ukrainian armed forces near the ZNPP is now more evident than ever. Against this backdrop, the accusations levelled against Russia over the deployment of the necessary security forces at the ZNPP, including in relevant reports by the IAEA Director General, sound particularly cynical. Russia will continue to act in pursuit of the objective of protecting the ZNPP from Ukrainian attacks, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations. #KievRegimeCrimes

💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: The actions of the Ukrainian regime go beyond piracy. At least pirates plunder for their own benefit. Here, however, it benefits no one. The sole purpose is to cause damage and spread fear. This pure terrorism manifests itself not only in the Sea of Azov, but also in the Black Sea and Africa. Wherever the Ukrainians see an opportunity to damage what they perceive to be the interests of the Russian Federation, they will align themselves with anyone – including African extremists seeking to overthrow legitimate governments – to achieve it. Either way, we will continue to fulfil all our commitments regarding food supplies to our African friends, both under commercial contracts and as part of humanitarian efforts, in accordance with their requests. This is what we have always done and will continue to do. Here’s an example that illustrates this vividly. When the special military operation began, 200,000 tonnes of Russian wheat were seized at EU ports. President Putin and the companies that owned the wheat announced that it would be given free of charge to African countries in need. Yet the EU, despite its "deep concern" for human rights, spent more than a year preventing the wheat from being released and sent to those African countries that needed it. ☝️ We know these neighbours well. We know their ways, and how determined they are to thwart Russia’s cooperation with African countries. Ultimately, they want to restore the old order, when former colonial powers dominated the continent. Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement and answers to media questions following talks with Foreign Minister of Chad Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Moscow, 14 July 2026

Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova: 💬 We are working to reunite 12 children currently in European countries with their families in Russia. I discussed these cases at a roundtable event hosted by the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE and dedicated to protecting children's rights in the context of armed conflict. Each of these children has close relatives in Russia who are ready to take them home. Reuniting these families requires cooperation of the countries where the children are currently located – Germany, Poland, Switzerland and the Netherlands. I recalled that, on the instruction of President Vladimir Putin, our institution has been carrying out systematic and transparent work to reunite families. Each case is considered individually, taking into account all circumstances and the best interests of the child. Since the start of the special military operation, 30 children have been reunited with relatives in Russia with our assistance, and a further 141 children have been reunited with families in Ukraine and in third countries. Over these years, we have established a clear working procedure. We cooperate with US First Lady Melania Trump, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Vatican, and maintain direct contact with the Ukrainian side. This mechanism enables us to regularly exchange up-to-date information, establish the circumstances of each case, and find solutions even in the most difficult situations. I also addressed other important issues, such as violations of children's rights abroad and crimes committed against civilians, including minors, and the myths that Western countries have been spreading about our work since the onset of the special military operation. ☝️ We work from a humanitarian standpoint and believe it is important not to politicise this issue. When the fate of children and families is at stake, I am convinced that direct dialogue, substantive cooperation and a shared willingness to seek solutions are essential. These are the principles on which our work is based and will continue to be based.

🤦 The UK government has once again introduced unlawful unilateral restrictive measures against Russia, justifying them with unsubstantiated allegations of cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and interference in other nations' political processes. This latest package of measures suggests that propaganda efforts in the UK and the EU are no longer proving entirely effective in fuelling the artificial narrative of the so-called “Russian threat”. It now seems that they also need to alarm the public with alleged cyber threats. It is particularly hypocritical to accuse Russia of interfering in the Moldovan and Armenian elections, both of which were marred by widespread violations of democratic principles and electoral procedures by the incumbent authorities, with the active support of the West. London's attempts to portray Russia as the principal threat in cyberspace are equally unfounded. The Russian Federation has consistently advocated the collective development of universal norms and standards to combat cybercrime. In 2024, the UN General Assembly approved the Convention against Cybercrime, which was drafted at Russia's initiative. However, by imposing its sanctions, the UK is undermining multilateral cooperation in combating digital crime and thus only benefiting online fraudsters. ❗️ We urge London to refrain from exploiting cyber-related allegations for political purposes, including as a pretext for imposing unlawful unilateral restrictive measures. Such a policy is doomed to fail. No amount of sanctions will alter the course pursued by the Russian Federation.

🤦 Правительство Британии в очередной раз разродилось незаконными односторонними ограничениями против России, которые оно оправдывает необоснованными обвинениями в хакерских атаках, дезинформационных кампаниях и вмешательстве в политпроцессы других стран. Нынешний набор мер указывает на то, что пропаганда в Британии и ЕС не вполне справляется с поставленными задачами по искусственному нагнетанию «российской угрозы». Пришла пора припугнуть обывателя и киберугрозами. Особое лицемерие в том, что именно нас обвиняют во вмешательстве в выборы в Молдавии и Армении, которые сопровождались масштабным нарушением демократических принципов и электоральных процедур со стороны действующих властей этих стран при активной поддержке Запада. Несостоятельны и попытки Лондона выставить Россию главной угрозой в цифровом пространстве. Наша страна последовательно выступает за коллективную выработку универсальных норм и стандартов по борьбе с преступностью в сфере информационно-коммуникационных технологий (ИКТ). В 2024 году Генассамблея ООН одобрила разработанную по инициативе России Конвенцию против киберпреступности. Однако Британия своими санкциями подрывает многостороннее сотрудничество по борьбе с ИКТ-криминалом. Тем самым только играет на руку интернет-мошенникам. ❗️ Призываем Лондон отказаться от использования кибердосье в конъюнктурных целях, в том числе как повод для введения неправомерных односторонних рестрикций. Подобная политика обречена на провал, никакое санкционное давление не изменит курс Российской Федерации.