UK ministers are boycotting the opening stages of the Euro 2012 tournament, which kicks off today.
They are shunning the initial stages of the tournament in response to the treatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
The move came after other European countries including Germany and France announced that senior politicians would boycott games played in Ukraine - which is co-hosting the event with Poland - unless the human rights situation under President Viktor Yanukovych improved.
The tournament gets under way in Warsaw where Poland will take on Greece at 5pm (BST).
Ms Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years last year after what supporters claim was a show trial.
The former prime minister staged a hunger strike in April after photos appeared showing bruises on her body. She has accused prison guards of assaulting her.
A statement released by the Foreign Office said: "The Government fully supports England's participation in Euro 2012. We hope this is a successful tournament for the England team, the fans and the people of Ukraine and Poland.
"No ministers will be attending group games at Euro 2012.
"We are keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament under review in the light of ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine."
Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "There are serious problems of course in Ukraine - I think everyone is well familiar with those problems.
"So I hope for our team it's a great sporting event but of course we don't want people to understand that as giving political support to some things that have been happening in Ukraine that we don't agree with."
But the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK called the ministerial snub of England's Euro 2012 group matches "a misjudgment".
Volodymyr Khandogyi told Radio Five Live: "I do not see the word boycott, rather there is information that ministers will not attend the first leg of the tournament in Ukraine - which I really regret.
"It's not a boycott or they would have said that but I regret they will not go. I think it is a misjudgement.
"I think this is not an opportune time to mix politics and sport.
"We are ready and looking forward to this event. Those who will not come, it is their own personal decision.
"It is disappointing to read these headlines because I think they are not fair in the first place. I would invite people to see for themselves rather than see these headlines.
"A lot of people are coming, some are not. That is their sovereign decision."
Read More
A St James's Palace spokesman said the Duke of Cambridge, who is president of the Football Association, would also not be attending the event.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson had earlier revealed he hoped to visit Ukraine to watch England.
Speaking at the Ladbrokes Sports Journalists Association lunch in London before the Foreign Office announced the boycott, Mr Robertson admitted he had monitored the racism fears highlighted by the BBC's Panorama programme.
"I hope to go. It's an easy decision for me because I am there to support British teams and British sport," he said.
"Given the economic backdrop it is unlikely I'm going to make it during the qualifying stage.
"I saw it (Panorama) and it is horrifying, but part of the reason in taking sports events to parts of society less traditional, edgier parts of the world that haven't had them before, is precisely to shine a light on these sorts of things.
"The expose wouldn't have happened without the Panorama programme and that wouldn't have happened without the European championship going there."
