With the process of the
dissolution of the Soviet Union, the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declared independence on 24 August 1991, later ratified by
an independence referendum on 1 December. Ukrainian indepencence was recognized by the
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic on 5 December 1991, and following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the RSFSR becoming the Russian Federation, formally established diplomatic relations on 14 February 1992. was appointed the first ambassador on 14 February 1992. The last Russian ambassador to Ukraine was
Mikhail Zurabov, who remained in post until 2016, though representation was in effect by ''
chargé d'affaires'' since 2014, following the
Russian annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the
War in Donbas that year. The remaining diplomatic staff left Ukraine on 23 February 2022, the day before the
Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine broke off diplomatic relations with Russia on the day of the invasion, and they have remained suspended during the ongoing war. ==List of representatives of Russia to Ukraine (1991–present)==