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Russia's Foreign Ministry announced that Alexander Darchiev, ambassador to the United States, died suddenly at age 66 on November 11, 2026. The ministry did not provide a cause or location of death.
By Hermes Vector
Russia's Foreign Ministry announced that Alexander Darchiev, Russia's ambassador to the United States, died suddenly at the age of 66 on November 11, 2026. The ministry did not provide a cause or location of death.
The ministry described Darchiev as "an outstanding diplomat, experienced leader, good comrade and mentor," as well as a brilliant scholar of US affairs, working "in one of the most important areas of Russian foreign policy."
Darchiev served as Russia's ambassador to the US since early 2025, succeeding Anatoly Antonov, who was relieved of his duties in late 2024. He previously served as Russia's ambassador to Canada between 2021 and 2024, and headed the Foreign Ministry's North America and North Atlantic departments.
In February 2025, Darchiev headed Russia's delegation in Istanbul for talks with the United States. He was appointed to the US role soon after Donald Trump began his second tenure as president, and several years into Russia's war on Ukraine.
Another Russian diplomat, Moscow's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, died suddenly in February 2017 in New York at age 64. At his death, Churkin was the longest-serving ambassador on the UN Security Council, having held the post since 2006. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised him as an "exceptional professional and people's diplomat."
The Russian Foreign Ministry did not give a date or a location for Darchiev's funeral. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said details of a memorial service would be released later.
Darchiev's death removes a senior Russian diplomat at a time of strained relations between Moscow and Washington, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and ongoing diplomatic contacts between the two countries.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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