Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died at the age of 66. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the death on Wednesday. According to the ministry, the senior diplomat died suddenly, and the cause of death has not been disclosed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry described the loss as a major one for the country’s diplomacy. The ministry made the announcement itself through a statement published on the social media platform X. The statement says Darchiev passed away suddenly, without providing further details about the circumstances of his death.
The ministry described Darchiev as an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a dear colleague and a mentor to many of his fellow diplomats. The statement also says the institution extends its deepest condolences to the ambassador’s family and relatives. Darchiev had held several posts within the Russian Foreign Ministry before being appointed ambassador in Washington at the beginning of 2025.
He replaced Anatoly Antonov in this post. His appointment came shortly after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. The diplomat had previously served at the Russian embassy in Washington in the late 2000s.
He had been Russia’s ambassador to Canada for six years, from 2014 to 2021. Known as a veteran diplomat appointed by President Vladimir Putin, Darchiev had become known for his repeated criticism of the West. His death comes at a time when relations between Moscow and Washington are trying to be restored after the tensions that have existed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At that time, Darchiev had described the Russian action as a necessary measure.