MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. The historic decision of the British people to leave the European Union is a victory of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador in Moscow, said on Friday.

Shocked by #Brexit vote !  Losers: EU, UK, US, those that believe in utility of a strong, united, democratic Europe.  Winners: Putin.

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) 24 июня 2016 г.

"I genuinely complement Putin for his victory tonight on Brexit," he went on. "Tonight is giant victory for Putin's foreign policy objectives."

Some 52% of UK citizens (17.41 million people) voted on Thursday for leaving the European Union, while 48% (16.14 million) were in favor of remaining part of the bloc.