Russian ambassador invited to Queen's Club tennis event

Andrey Kelin, the Russian ambassador to the UK, was invited to a hospitality box at Queen's Club last week during the 2026 HSBC Championship, a tournament that precedes Wimbledon. Kelin, who has served as Vladimir Putin's chief diplomat in the UK since 2019, was photographed at the West London club as part of a group invited by Mikhail Ignatiev, the founder of a concierge service that caters to Russian investors traveling to the UK.

The group was reportedly seated in the President's Room hospitality suite, which costs over £500 per person and includes access to a bar, champagne reception, and a three-course lunch. Ignatiev's companies operate in the UK, Monaco, Dubai, and Ukraine, and he also founded a wellness spa in Dubai.

The Russian embassy, Ignatiev, and Queen's Club did not respond to requests for comment. The presence of Kelin at the event was first shared online by Bill Browder, an investor known for his campaigns against corruption under Putin.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, numerous Russian oligarchs and businessmen have faced sanctions from the UK, US, and EU, leading to their departure from the UK. Despite expulsions of diplomats in the past, including after the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, Kelin has remained in the UK.

Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, criticized the invitation, stating it was "wholly wrong" for Kelin to be "invited to hobnob at Queen’s while Ukraine continues to face unprovoked aggression from Russia." Patel urged Queen's Club to take action to ensure Kelin cannot return, emphasizing the need to "stand firm with Ukraine and send a clear message that Russia’s conduct will not be tolerated."