Alexander Darchiev, Russian envoy to Washington, dies suddenly at 66

Alexander Darchiev, the Russian ambassador to the United States, has died unexpectedly at the age of 66, the foreign ministry in Moscow announced on Wednesday.

Darchiev had served in the diplomatic post in Washington for only one and a half years prior to his death. The Russian foreign ministry did not provide specific details regarding the circumstances or cause of his passing, but it praised him as an outstanding diplomat, a kind colleague, and an experienced leader.

His tenure in Washington began in March 2025, taking over the diplomatic mission shortly after Donald Trump returned to power in the United States. His appointment came during an era of deeply strained relations between Moscow and Western nations, sustained over several years following Russia's offensive against Ukraine.

Throughout his diplomatic career, Darchiev focused extensively on North American affairs and the bilateral relationship between Washington and Moscow. Prior to stepping into his post in the United States, he spent three years as Russia's ambassador to Canada, a position he held from 2021 to 2024.

Earlier in his career, Darchiev headed the North America department within the Russian foreign ministry, leading that division between 2014 and 2020. During Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he publicly characterized Moscow's military actions as a "necessary measure."

The Russian government has not yet announced who will succeed Darchiev as the head of its diplomatic mission in the United States.