Russian ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev dies at 66

Alexander Darchiev, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, passed away on November 11, 2026, at the age of 66. The Russian Foreign Ministry initially announced the death as sudden without specifying the location or cause, which led to widespread international attention. Later, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova clarified via Telegram that Darchiev had died in Moscow due to a chronic illness, while simultaneously criticizing Western media outlets for spreading conspiracy theories regarding the circumstances of his passing.

Darchiev was a seasoned diplomat who served as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021. In March 2025, President Vladimir Putin appointed him to the Washington post with the primary mandate of managing diplomatic engagement with the Donald Trump administration. His tenure was characterized by a critical stance toward the West, and his diplomatic efforts had been closely monitored by European leaders and the Ukrainian government due to concerns over shifting US-Russia relations.