Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Russia’s Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died suddenly at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
The ministry confirmed his death in a statement but did not disclose the circumstances surrounding it.
Darchiev, who assumed office in March 2025, had served as Russia’s envoy to Washington for approximately 18 months, having been appointed shortly after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
In its tribute, the Russian Foreign Ministry described him as an “outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague”, acknowledging his contributions to the country’s diplomatic service.
Before his appointment to Washington, Darchiev served as Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2021 to 2024, giving him extensive experience in managing Moscow’s diplomatic relations with North American countries.
He was also a specialist in Russia-US relations and headed the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department between 2014 and 2020.
His diplomatic career spanned a period of heightened tensions between Russia and Western countries, particularly following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
At the time, Darchiev defended Russia’s military action in Ukraine, describing it as a “necessary measure”.
His tenure as ambassador to the United States coincided with efforts to manage relations between Washington and Moscow amid continuing disagreements over the Ukraine war and other international issues.
