The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the sudden passing of the veteran diplomat on Wednesday.
Russia's ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, died suddenly on Wednesday, November 11, according to reports from Al Jazeera and WION. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of the 66-year-old diplomat but has not disclosed the cause.
Darchiev had been serving in Washington since March 2025, succeeding Anatoly Antonov. He was a specialist in relations between Russia and the United States and had been in the role for approximately one and a half years.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement praising the late diplomat, calling him a highly skilled professional, a capable leader, and a helpful colleague. They noted he worked in a critical area of Russian foreign policy.
A career diplomat, Darchiev entered the service in 1992. He previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and held various leadership roles within the Foreign Ministry's North America department.
In 2022, Darchiev defended Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, describing the move as a necessary measure. He was the son of Nikita Ivanovich Darchiev, a diplomat and minister-counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Hungary.
