Russia's US Ambassador Alexander Darchiev Dies Suddenly at 66

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has passed away at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced. The ministry stated that he "passed away suddenly" on Wednesday, approximately a year and a half after assuming his post in the US. No further details regarding the cause of his death were provided by Moscow.

Described as an "outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague," Darchiev worked in a role considered to be "one of the most critical areas of Russian foreign policy." He was a specialist in Russia-US relations.

Darchiev's appointment to the US role came last March, shortly after US President Donald Trump returned to power and amidst Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, he characterized Russia's offensive against Ukraine as a "necessary measure."

Born into a diplomatic family, his father, Nikita Ivanovich Darchiev, served as a diplomat and minister-counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Hungary. Alexander Darchiev began his diplomatic career in 1992, initially serving as first secretary and head of the North America department within Russia’s Foreign Ministry. He held positions at the Russian Embassy in the US as an adviser in 1997 and later as minister-counsellor from 2005 to 2010. Prior to his US ambassadorship, he was Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. He returned to direct the North America department in the Foreign Ministry in 2010 and held this position again until last year.