The US ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, has left Moscow to return home, state media outlets reported Thursday, a move recently requested by the Kremlin.

Sullivan departed from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Thursday morning to London, where he was to take a connecting flight back to the US, the Tass and Interfax state news agencies reported.

On Tuesday, the US Embassy in Moscow said Sullivan would return to the US this week for "consultations" but did not give a departure time.

Sullivan's exit comes amid high tensions between the Kremlin and President Joe Biden's administration.

Russia had urged Washington to bring Sullivan home as it announced the expulsion of 10 US diplomats in retaliation to new sanctions and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats by the Biden administration.

The demand was a stark move: Countries are usually free to choose their own ambassadors, and it is rare, though not unprecedented, for host nations to object.

(With input from agencies)