Russia announces the "sudden" death of its ambassador to the United States

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced, on Wednesday, the death of the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, at the age of 66. The cause of death has not yet been publicly revealed.

The ministry said in a statement that Darchiyev "passed away suddenly," describing him as a "professional and exceptional diplomat." The ministry statement added: “Alexander Darcheyev worked in one of the most demanding areas of Russian foreign policy.

We extend our deepest condolences and sincere feelings of sympathy to the family of Alexander Darchiev and his loved ones.” Meanwhile, the Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated that he was suffering from a chronic illness.

Darchiyev, a veteran diplomat known for his harsh condemnation of the West, has been the Russian ambassador to Washington since March 2025. His tenure witnessed an improvement in US-Russian relations, coinciding with US President Donald Trump starting bilateral talks with Moscow and reducing aid to Ukraine.

According to the Russian Embassy in the United States, Darchiev previously headed the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and also served as Russia's ambassador to Canada between 2014 and 2021. It is noteworthy that about a decade ago, another Russian diplomat died suddenly at the age of 64. Vitaly Churkin, who was Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, passed away after suffering a heart attack in 2017, just one day before he turned 65 years old.

According to World Bank data, the average life expectancy for men in Russia is 68 years.