Russian Ambassador to US Alexander Darchiyev Dies at 66

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiyev, has died in Moscow at the age of 66, the Russian foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

The ministry described his death as sudden and did not give a cause or exact location in its initial statement. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later told journalists that Darchiyev had been fighting a chronic illness, and a source familiar with the matter told CNN that he had returned to Moscow from Washington to receive treatment for a long-term condition.

"The leadership and staff of the Russian foreign ministry announce with deep sorrow the sudden death, which occurred on 11 November, of Alexander Nikitich Darchiyev," the statement said, calling him an outstanding diplomat and a brilliant expert on the United States.

Darchiyev took up the post of ambassador in Washington in March 2025, at a time of renewed direct contact between Moscow and Washington. Before that, he served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and later headed the foreign ministry's North America department, with broader responsibility for the North Atlantic region.

Darchiyev's tenure as ambassador coincided with a period of direct diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Washington, including high-level talks that began after the two countries' presidents met. He had previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada for seven years and held senior roles focused on North America and the North Atlantic.

The US State Department said it was aware of his death and offered condolences to his family.