CANBERRA, 24 September 2025 – In a formal ceremony at Government House today, Mr. Mikhail Petrakov was officially installed as the new Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia, presenting his credentials to Governor-General Sam Mostyn.
The event, which marks the official start of Ambassador Petrakov’s diplomatic mission, included a brief conversation where the two parties discussed the state of bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, according to a statement from the Russian Embassy.
The arrival of Ambassador Petrakov follows the departure last month of his predecessor, Ambassador Aleksey Pavlovsky, who concluded his posting after a tenure defined by historically low points in Australia-Russia relations.
Australia-Russia ties: A Relationship Under Severe Strain
The diplomatic relationship between Australia and Russia has been deeply fractured for years. In response to the military action in Ukraine, the Australian government, in lockstep with Western allies, imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities, including most of Russia’s banking sector.
Furthermore, Australia has contributed significant military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The previous Morrison government banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and Australia joined other nations in officially declaring Russia’s actions in Ukraine as war crimes.
During this period, diplomatic channels were severely constricted. The Australian embassy in Moscow operated with a skeletal staff, and the Russian embassy in Canberra became a focus of political tension, with the government summoning Ambassador Pavlovsky on multiple occasions to express condemnation of Russia’s actions.
A New Ambassador, An Unchanged Stance
The departure of Ambassador Pavlovsky in August was viewed by analysts as a routine conclusion of a posting rather than a signal of a diplomatic thaw. The appointment of Mikhail Petrakov, a career diplomat, is seen as Moscow’s effort to maintain a formal diplomatic presence despite the ongoing tensions.
Today’s credential ceremony is a standard diplomatic formality and does not indicate any immediate change in the Australian government’s firm policy towards Russia. Official statements from Canberra continue to emphasise unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The challenge for the new Ambassador Petrakov will be to navigate this profoundly difficult bilateral landscape, where official dialogue remains minimal and mutual distrust is high. While both nations maintain diplomatic missions, a significant improvement in relations appears contingent on a fundamental change in the situation in Ukraine, a prospect that currently seems distant.
