Moscow’s ambassador to the US dies at age 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry says

Alexander Darchiev, the Russian ambassador to the United States, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 66, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, revealed that Darchiev died in Moscow due to an unspecified chronic illness. The statement from the Foreign Ministry described Darchiev as an "outstanding diplomat, experienced leader, good comrade and mentor," and a brilliant scholar of U.S. affairs, whose work focused on one of the most crucial aspects of Russian foreign policy.

Darchiev had been serving as the ambassador to the U.S. since early 2025, succeeding Anatoly Antonov, who was relieved of his duties in late 2024. Prior to his ambassadorship, Darchiev headed the Foreign Ministry's North America and North Atlantic departments, as well as serving as ambassador to Canada and a minister-counselor at the Washington embassy.

In February 2025, he led Russia's delegation in Istanbul for talks with the United States. Notably, another Russian diplomat, Moscow's U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin, also died unexpectedly in February 2017 in New York at the age of 64; Churkin had been the longest-serving ambassador on the U.N. Security Council, holding the position since 2006.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid tribute to Darchiev as an "exceptional professional and people's diplomat." The Russian Foreign Ministry has not disclosed the date or location of Darchiev's funeral, but plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.