Alexander Yakovenko said today that Russia would exert maximum pressure on London in a standoff over the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal.
And, in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel, he said Britain was behaving aggressively towards his country.
He claimed it was cranking up the tension in order to distract the British public from the difficulties it was having managing the country’s 2019 exit from the EU.
The ambassador said: “It is a big game of chess that we will play.
“All this information campaign will fizzle out sooner or later because there is nothing to fuel it – there is not a single fact and no information is being revealed.”
He admitted London’s expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats over the poisoning amounted to a 40 percent staff cut and would seriously affect the work of his embassy.
But, like Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, he insisted the UK was violating international rules on the issue.
He said: “The problem is that no one has seen any photos of Yulia Skripal and her father, no one knows in what condition they currently are and no one knows about any progress in the investigation.
Russian Ambassador and reporter CLASH over spy poisoningAlexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko spoke to Sky over Mr Skripal's poisoning in Salisbury; and claimed that Vladimir Putin's comments do not create suspicion surrounding Russia's involvement.Play Video
“We just don’t seem to be getting answers to all these questions.
“The British have been avoiding this topic. It is a violation of international law, particularly the Vienna Convention, but unfortunately, the British often indulge in adopting such a colonial manner.”
Russia denies Britain’s allegations that it was involved in the poisoning of Mr Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.
Britain, the United States, Germany and France have jointly called on Russia to explain the military-grade nerve toxin attack, which they said threatened western security.
Today, Mr Lavrov said Moscow would “stop paying attention” to Britain over the crisis.
He reiterated that Russia will expel British diplomats and also said Gavin Williamson “lacks education” after the Defence Secretary said yesterday Russia should “go away and shut up”.
Mr Lavrov warned Moscow will expel British diplomats “soon” and again accused the UK of a “provocation”.
A tit-for-tat reaction is expected to Theresa May’s decision to kick out 23 diplomats who she said were undeclared intelligence officers.
Speaking at an event in Moscow on Thursday night, Vladimir Putin said Russia was a “proud” nation “and will be in the future, too”.
Mr Putin had a meeting with his security council yesterday to consider UK-Russia relations. Read more....