Russian Embassy to the UK

🕯 On September 9, Russia observed the Day of Remembrance for Russian Soldiers Fallen in the Defence of Sevastopol and the Crimean War of 1853-1856. It was on this day that the heroic 349-day defence of Sevastopol came to an end. Following the Ottoman declaration of war on Russia on October 16, 1853, active hostilities unfolded on land and at sea around the Crimean Peninsula. In an attempt to save the Ottoman Empire from defeat, particularly after the Russian fleet under Vice Admiral Pavel Nakhimov routed the Turkish squadron at the Battle of Sinop, Britain and France entered the war on Turkiye’s side. In 1854, allied troops landed in Crimea and began the siege of Sevastopol. The city’s defence was led by outstanding Russian military commanders, including Vladimir Kornilov and Pavel Nakhimov. Among its defenders was the great writer Leo Tolstoy, who later recounted his experiences in his Sevastopol Sketches. Sevastopol’s defenders held the city for almost a year, skilfully and selflessly repelling assaults by superior enemy forces. After prolonged and fierce fighting, Russian troops withdrew in an orderly manner from the southern side of Sevastopol. The army retained its fighting capability, and the allies never succeeded in forcing its surrender. ⚔️ The defence of Sevastopol became a symbol of the courage, resilience and military valour of Russian soldiers and sailors. *** The memory of Sevastopol’s heroic Russian defenders apparently remains a sore point for those for whom the Crimean War serves as a reminder of a gruelling and bloody campaign. On June 10, 2026, the Kiev regime deliberately launched a drone attack on the Defence of Sevastopol, 1854-1855 Panorama Museum. Severe damage was inflicted on Franz Roubaud’s world-famous painting The Assault of June 6, 1855, depicting Russian troops repelling an assault on Malakhov Hill by superior British and French forces. According to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the attack on the museum was a meticulously planned provocation orchestrated by London and British intelligence services, while Ukrainian military personnel carried out the preparations and launched the drones. 👉 But no provocation can change the truth: the Russian soldier’s resilience will forever remain part of history, while Britain’s gruelling military campaign and enormous losses are immortalised in the famous panorama.

🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's weekly briefing 💬 After Germany levelled blatant anti-Russian accusations over the alleged “drone attack” involving aircraft at Leipzig Airport, a number of EU and NATO member states rushed to join the German démarche without carrying out any independent analysis. No facts were presented. This was followed by a whole series of public statements, as well as the summoning of the heads of Russian diplomatic missions, expressing solidarity with Germany and the Kiev regime [...] It is obvious that the aim of such actions is to keep anti-Russian sentiment at a high level among the European public. This is meant to cover up the serious political and economic miscalculations of the European elites, justify to their citizens the allocation of huge resources to fund Ukraine, and accelerate the expansion of the European defence industries under the pretext of preparing for an allegedly inevitable armed confrontation with our country. If it is “inevitable”, then they should admit that it is they who are seeking it. The mass repetition of groundless and absurdly false accusations against Russia of engaging in “subversive activities” has become a mandatory element of the information war being waged against our country. Read in full

💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: As for negotiations on Ukraine, what is needed above all is negotiation based on an understanding of the root causes and on working out an agreement to remove them. We have always been ready for that. The current Ukraine crisis was created by the West, primarily the previous US administration, the European Union and NATO members, who are still trying to achieve what they call Russia's defeat and support Ukraine in everything. From the very outset, the Trump administration has shown both the willingness and the ability to address the root causes of the conflict. That is precisely what gives grounds to expect that negotiations and contacts with the relevant envoys will be useful for both sides. Another point I would like to make is that it is the European Union that continues to do everything it can to prevent the situation from moving towards addressing the root causes and finding ways to reach a reliable, long-term settlement based on eliminating those causes. Read in full

Excerpts from FM Sergey Lavrov's interview with Russian TV presenter Yulia Menshova ⏺ The West has always been interested in weakening our country – the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union [...] Now the West has to defend its position through fair competition. And that is something it has never known how to do throughout its history. ⏺ The loss of the West's ability to objectively lead the world is pushing it to try to maintain its dominance by completely unscrupulous methods – through sanctions, and even direct intervention. They are simply clinging to their last remaining opportunities to preserve their dominance. ⏺ We have never done anything to undermine our relations with the West. And it is no coincidence that the eagle on our coat of arms has two heads, looking both west and east. We keep a close eye on both directions, making sure, first of all, that there are no threats or attempts to harm us. But we also keep a close eye on where there are opportunities for mutually beneficial relations. And at this stage, of course, all these opportunities are in the East. ⏺ We warned that Ukrainian terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Russia, including oil refineries, would provoke a response that would be much more severe for Ukraine. This is what is happening now. ⏺ If Western diplomacy comes down to holding back countries that put forward sensible, balanced and compromise-based initiatives, then so be it. In that case, we will achieve our goals not at the negotiating table, which would be preferable for us – and Anchorage summit proved that – but on the battlefield. ⏺ I feel sorry for Britain, because it has itself, through Prime Minister Andy Burnham, said that it will stand with Ukraine until the end. Since the end for Ukraine is not a happy one, I feel sorry for Britain. Watch in full

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😎 198 years ago today, Leo Tolstoy was born – one of Russia’s greatest writers and one of the most influential figures in world literature. His stories about love, family, war and human nature have been read and admired far beyond Russia, including in Britain. Born in 1828 at Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy lived many lives: aristocrat, soldier, teacher and social thinker. His masterpieces, War and Peace and Anna Karenina, turned the experiences and struggles of ordinary people into stories of universal importance. By the late 19th century, English translations had made Tolstoy a major literary figure in Britain. His ideas about non-violence, simple living and social equality also inspired a small but active Tolstoyan movement, with groups in London, Manchester, Leeds and elsewhere. Tolstoy’s works have continued to find new readers in the UK. His novels are regularly reissued and translated, while British publishers, theatres and broadcasters keep bringing his masterpieces to new audiences. From the BBC’s War and Peace, starring a young Anthony Hopkins in 1972, to the 2016 adaptation with Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton, his stories have repeatedly returned to British screens. Anna Karenina has also been adapted several times, including Joe Wright’s 2012 film starring Keira Knightley. Nearly two centuries after his birth, Tolstoy's characters still feel remarkably close to us – proof that great literature can cross borders, languages and generations.

🎙 Highlights from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the meeting with MGIMO University students (Moscow, 7 September 2026) 🔹 We have always been open to cooperating with those prepared to engage on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and the balance of interests. The vast majority of countries in the Global South and East are willing to do so. However, the West does not want this to happen. 🔹 The process of mounting tensions between us and the West did not begin because we wanted to "pick a fight". We simply wanted our truth and our legitimate interests, which are fully consistent with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and other instruments of international law, to be heard and taken into account. 🔹The unprecedentedly aggressive actions taken to impose sanctions and to seize state assets and reserves [...] are nothing short of outright theft and plunder. Western countries are now engaging in plunder with regard to Russian assets and the so-called "shadow fleet". 🔹Once the globalisation created by the Americans, which everyone was being drawn into and persuaded to join, has been destroyed by its very creators, it means we need to be bolder in shaping new spaces in which rules will apply that cannot be unilaterally revised or changed at someone's whim. This is precisely what BRICS is doing now. 🔹 When it comes to security, we should set ourselves an ambitious goal, even if it will take time to achieve: a Eurasian security architecture that is open to all countries on the continent and does not involve actors from outside the region. This is not a utopian idea. At some point, it could become a reality. Real in full

🎙 Statement by Aide to the President of Russia Yury Ushakov following a telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump 💬 The conversation centered on Ukrainian settlement. Donald Trump directly communicated the desirability of bringing the conflict to an end as soon as possible, as it would immediately open up prospects – impressive and far-reaching ones at that – for the full restoration of Russia-US relations. In his view, this would have a particular impact on trade and economic ties, promising huge ‌benefits for ⁠both nations. Donald Trump is keen to see a breakthrough achieved during his presidency. President Vladimir Putin supported this approach in the context of potentially building a constructive partnership between the two great powers and praised the mediation efforts by the US and Donald Trump personally with respect to finding solutions to the Ukrainian conflict. An objective and extensive analysis of the current developments in the special military operation was provided, along with our vision of the overall progress on the battlefield and achieving the goals and objectives of the special military operation. Speaking of which, actual tangible actions that the Americans could take to expedite the cessation of the hostilities were outlined. In view of the speculations regarding Russia’s alleged hostile intentions against European states, it was stressed that no aggressive plans against Europe have ever entered our minds. The circulated myths about the Russian threat serve as a pretext for Europeans to ramp up their support for Ukraine and their own military expenses. Read in full

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🗓 On 8 September 1941, the Siege of Leningrad – today’s St Petersburg – commenced. For 872 days, the city was cut off from the rest of the Soviet Union, enduring starvation, shelling, disease and extreme cold. At the height of the winter of 1941–1942, the daily bread ration for many residents fell to just 125 grammes. Temperatures dropped below -30°C, electricity and heating failed, and hundreds of thousands died from hunger and exhaustion. Yet Leningrad refused to surrender. Factories continued producing weapons, while schools, hospitals and cultural institutions remained open. In August 1942, Dmitri Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony was performed in the besieged city, becoming a powerful symbol of its resistance. Leningraders even planted vegetable gardens in parks and on squares, including cabbage on St Isaac's Square. The city's lifeline was the Road of Life across frozen Lake Ladoga, bringing in food and supplies and evacuating civilians. The blockade was finally broken on 27 January 1944. More than one million people died during the siege – one of the most devastating episodes of the Second World War. 85 years on, we honour the memory of those who endured it and remember the courage and resilience of Leningrad's people. Their story is remembered in Britain, too: in 2020, a plaque was unveiled in Manchester in recognition of the brave people of besieged Leningrad. 📸 Sputnik

💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: We are developing our multilateral cooperation on the Eurasian continent through venues and platforms that are based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and honest dialogue, which are entirely different from those of Western-oriented structures [...] We are not building walls; we don’t want to isolate ourselves from Europe. But Europe has isolated itself from us. It has decided that our past cooperation was so important for the Russian Federation that we would plead and beg them to forgive, forget, go back, and lift sanctions. We won’t do this. It is against the genetic code of our people. We have, if you like, a pride of our own in the best sense of the word. We don’t need anybody’s goodwill. We have enough friends and partners who are ready to play fair. Europe is not ready to cooperate in earnest, nor does it know how to do it. For more than five hundred years, Europe has been the main source of many troubles and misfortunes that have afflicted humanity. It was where two world wars began, and it is also the source of the current situation, in which it has simply stifled itself with the sheer volume of illegal sanctions it has imposed in an attempt to defend what it considers its right to hegemony in global affairs [...] These unprecedented sanctions have been imposed simply because Russia is defending the interests of its people. The restrictions imposed on states that cooperate with or even simply trade with Russia demonstrate that this neo-imperial, colonial spirit remains deeply entrenched in Europe. Excerpt from FM Lavrov's remarks on the sidelines of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok, 3 September 2026

🇷🇺 8 September this year marks the first-ever celebration of the Day of the Languages of the Peoples of the Russian Federation. More than 150 languages are spoken across Russia, reflecting the country’s remarkable cultural diversity. One in seven Russians speaks a language other than Russian, keeping their linguistic heritage alive from generation to generation. Many of these languages have their own writing systems, media, schools and university programmes. Efforts are also underway to preserve them in the digital world – from electronic dictionaries to computer fonts. The new observance was established by Presidential Decree on 4 November 2025 to preserve and develop Russia’s unique linguistic diversity. The date is symbolic: 8 September is the birthday of the great Dagestani poet Rasul Gamzatov, whose work became a powerful symbol of intercultural dialogue. Protecting linguistic diversity gives people the opportunity to preserve their cultural identity. 📹 Gateway to Russia

🌟 On September 7, 1945, a joint military parade of units from the USSR, the United States, UK, and France was held in Berlin near the defeated Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate, commemorating the end of #WW2 and the common Victory of the Allies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition over Nazi Germany. The site of the parade — at the Brandenburg Gate, in the very heart of the capital of the defeated Reich — was chosen for a reason: 👉 it was precisely there that the Battle of Berlin came to an end, with the remnants of the Nazi Berlin garrison surrendering to the Red Army. The Soviet Union made thorough preparations for the parade. Most distinguished soldiers, sergeants, officers, and generals who had displayed unparalleled courage during the capture of Berlin and the assaults on the Reichstag and the Reich Chancellery, were involved in the parade. 🕚 The Berlin parade began exactly at 11 a.m. on September 7. It was reviewed by Georgy Zhukov, the legendary Marshal of Victory and commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. The parade was opened by the combined regiment of the Red Army’s 248th Rifle Division, led by Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant Colonel Georgy Lenev. Bringing up the rear of the Allied parade formation was a column of Soviet armored vehicles, featuring the latest IS-3 heavy tanks (“Iosif Stalin”). 💬 In his welcoming address to the parade participants, Marshal Zhukov paid tribute to the heroic deeds of the Soviet and Allied forces in the struggle for common Victory over Nazi evil: Comrades-in-arms, fellow soldiers, soldiers, officers, and generals... <...> WWII ended with a decisive and powerful blow by the great Allied powers. Our victory is a triumph of a military alliance among democratic states unprecedented in the world. From now on, people <...> will be eternally grateful to the great peoples of America, Britain, the Soviet Union, the French Republic, and China, and to their valiant soldiers, who in the difficult hour of wartime trials extended helping hands to one another and united to achieve victory over a common enemy and to secure the long-awaited peace on Earth. 🎖 The historic Victory Parade on German soil, held at the initiative of the USSR on land liberated from the horrors of Hitlerism by the Soviet people at the cost of enormous sacrifices and efforts, clearly and convincingly demonstrated to the entire world — #TheSovietSoldierSavedTheWorld.” #Victory81

🗳 В Великобритании состоится голосование на выборах депутатов Государственной Думы Для россиян, проживающих или временно находящихся на территории Соединённого Королевства, будет открыт избирательный участок № 8061 в Посольстве России в Лондоне. 📍 Адрес: 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QP Голосование пройдёт 20 сентября с 08:00 до 20:00 по местному времени. Принять участие в нём смогут совершеннолетние граждане Российской Федерации. Для этого необходимо лично явиться на избирательный участок и предъявить действительный заграничный паспорт РФ. Предварительная регистрация не требуется. По всем возникающим вопросам можно обращаться по электронной почте vybory2026@rusemb.org.uk или по телефону +44 7884 811373. 📞 График работы горячей линии: 7–11 и 14–19 сентября, с 10:00 до 12:00 и с 14:00 до 17:00. Дополнительная информация о предстоящих выборах размещена на официальном сайте ЦИК России: www.cikrf.ru. #Выборы2026

❌ Since 2014 the Kiev regime has systematically built a multi-layered system of severe restrictions on religious freedom. The religious dimension has become one of the state’s key instruments for influencing social processes and is actively used to falsify history, legitimise and glorify Nazism, and suppress dissent, as well as secular and religious opposition. Sweeping administrative and legal measures are being implemented to weaken the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the greatest possible extent in public life, up to and including the dismantling of its governing structures. A new report of the Russian MFA provides numerous documented examples of discrimination, along with public statements by Ukrainian officials at various levels openly spelling out the ultimate objectives of this campaign – to eliminate the country’s largest religious organisation, force its parishioners and clergy to join the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine”, which is controlled by the authorities and interested business circles, and expropriate UOC property, religious objects and holy sites. One of the reasons behind the current catastrophic situation facing Orthodox Christians in Ukraine is Western support for the Kiev regime’s religious policy. This issue is also examined in the report. Despite the vast number of documented cases of persecution against the canonical Church and clear violations of Ukraine’s international legal obligations in the field of human rights, these violations have still not received due attention from universal multilateral organisations, including the UN and its leadership, which refrain from issuing detailed reports on the matter or responding firmly, limiting themselves to routine references to the problem. Read the report in full

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❤️ Today, Moscow celebrates its birthday — a city where centuries of history meet the energy of modern life. From the Kremlin and Red Square to quiet courtyards, riverside walks, vibrant neighbourhoods and late-night streets, Moscow is a place that never stops moving, yet never loses its sense of character. Happy Birthday, dear Moscow! Here’s to a city of grand views, hidden corners, endless stories and the people who bring it to life.

⚡️ In connection with Ukrainian statements aimed at creating direct threats to civil aviation, the competent Russian authorities are in contact with the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (#ICAO) in Montreal. An urgent appeal on the matter has been sent to ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. ❗️ The Russian Federation has issued a strong protest over Ukraine’s reckless terrorist actions, which run counter to international law. The NOTAMs issued by the Ukrainian authorities alleging that Russian airspace is unsafe have been categorically rejected. They have no legal force, distort the actual situation and mislead users of Russian airspace. We called on the ICAO Secretary General to condemn the Kiev regime’s unlawful interference in civil aviation and the direct threats it is creating, and to take targeted steps to put an end to these actions by Ukraine. ☝️ The Russian Federation remains firmly committed to ensuring the safety of civil aviation.

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🤝 The 11th annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) took place from 1 to 4 September in Vladivostok, a rapidly developing and vibrant city in Russia’s Far East. The EEF is a major platform that aims to promote international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. This year's Forum motto is “The Far East — Development for the Benefit of People”. More than 7,000 guests, among them high-ranking officials and representatives of business and academic circles from 78 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia, Serbia and others, attended the Forum. The President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto was the keynote guest. President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the plenary session. Russia plays an active role in investment and trade cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. We work on an equal footing with our partners and the region’s leading integration associations. Our strategic goal is to establish the Far East as a region of cooperation, economic and infrastructural development, technological advancement, and personnel training. — President Putin

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's remarks at the plenary meeting of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (Vladivostok, 3 September) 💬 First and foremost, it is Russia and Ukraine that must reach an agreement between themselves [...] This is the right approach. But we are grateful to everyone who is trying to contribute to settling this issue. The seizure of civilian vessels, [Ukrainian] strikes on commercial ships, and the threats we have just heard about attacks on civilian aircraft are a manifestation of state terrorism. This undoubtedly complicates the prospects for holding bilateral peace talks. Those who remain silent, those who turn a blind eye to this – I mean, above all, Ukraine’s Western allies – become accomplices in international terrorism. There is no other way to interpret it. Read in full

Embassy comment on the British side’s démarche 💬 On 3 September, Chargé d’Affaires Vasily Tsyganov was invited to the Foreign Office, where he received a protest alleging Russia’s involvement in the drone incident at Leipzig Airport. These baseless and absurd accusations, framed in a surprisingly familiar British style, were categorically rejected. No convincing evidence was presented to support the anti-Russian version of events. The Russian side pointed out that such a coordinated provocation, aimed at fuelling tension in Europe, serves only the interests of Kiev and its sponsors, who are pushing for the conflict to continue. It is reckless and dangerous. ☝️ It was stressed that Russia does not seek confrontation with the United Kingdom or other European states. However, any escalatory steps on their part will meet an appropriate and carefully calibrated response.

Комментарий Посольства в связи с демаршем британской стороны 💬 3 сентября Временный поверенный в делах России в Великобритании Василий Цыганов был приглашён в Форин офис, где ему был заявлен протест в связи с якобы причастностью России к инциденту с БПЛА в аэропорту Лейпцига. Эти бездоказательные и абсурдные обвинения, выстроенные в на удивление знакомом британском стиле, были категорически отвергнуты. Каких-либо убедительных аргументов в пользу антироссийской версии случившегося представлено не было. С российской стороны было отмечено, что подобная скоординированная провокация, направленная на нагнетание напряжённости в Европе, выгодна только Киеву и его спонсорам, требующим продолжения конфликта. Она выглядит безрассудной и опасной. ❗️ Было указано, что наша страна не стремится к конфронтации с Соединенным Королевством или другими европейскими государствами, однако любые эскалационные шаги с их стороны получат адекватный и выверенный ответ.

🎙 Excerpt from statement by Russia's Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at a UNGA Meeting on Ukraine 💬 The very idea of Russia “occupying” any of the [Ukraninan] territories is unfounded, both politically and legally. For us, the question of the status of Crimea and Sevastopol, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions is settled. Their residents made a conscious choice and decided to link their future with Russia. We regard these votes as an exercise of the right of peoples to freely determine their own future. We base our position on the principle of self-determination of peoples, as set out in the UN Charter, the 1966 International Covenants on Human Rights, the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law, and the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the CSCE. International law must apply equally to everyone. The right to self-determination cannot be recognised for some peoples and denied to others. In 1991, the Ukrainian authorities declared independence with reference to the right to self-determination. Yet today they are trying to prevent Crimea, Donbass and Novorossiya from exercising that same right. The obvious can be denied as much as one likes through political rhetoric. But millions of people cannot be forced to give up their identity, their ties to the Russian world, their historical memory, and the choice they have made simply because this choice does not suit the Kiev regime and its Western supporters. Read in full