Russian Ambassador to US Alexander Darchiyev dies suddenly at 66

Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiyev died suddenly at age 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Russian Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiyev, died suddenly today (Wednesday) at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. The circumstances of his death have not yet been published. In the ministry's statement, it was written that 'the dear memory of our colleague will always remain in our hearts. A great diplomat, an experienced leader, a beloved colleague and mentor who was a top-tier professional and a brilliant expert on American affairs has passed away.' Darchiyev, a veteran diplomat, was appointed ambassador to Washington in early 2025, replacing Anatoly Antonov, during a tense period in relations between Moscow and the American administration against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Throughout his long diplomatic career, spanning over three decades, he focused on Moscow's relations with North America, served in the embassy in Washington in the 1990s and 2000s, served as ambassador to Canada (2014–2021), and headed the North America department in the Foreign Ministry in Moscow before his appointment to the senior post.