Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Dies at 66

Nov. 11, 2026 Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev. MID_Russia / Telegram Russia’s Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died at the age of 66, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. “An outstanding diplomat, experienced leader, kind colleague and mentor has passed away,” the ministry said in a brief statement, describing the late ambassador as a “professional of the highest order and a brilliant expert on American affairs.” It did not disclose the cause of Darchiev’s death. Darchiev replaced Anatoly Antonov as ambassador to the United States in early 2025 amid a sudden thaw in U.S.-Russia relations following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. A seasoned diplomat, Darchiev previously served at Russia’s Embassy in Washington in the late 2000s before holding positions in the Foreign Ministry. He later spent six years as Russia’s ambassador to Canada and headed the ministry’s North American Department for four years. Darchiev was a protegé of President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov, according to Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat in Geneva who publicly resigned in protest of the invasion of Ukraine. At the time of his appointment, observers said they did not believe Darchiev was likely to wield much influence, as Moscow and Washington have handled most major issues at a higher level in recent years. The Kremlin did not immediately comment on Darchiev’s passing. U.S. officials have also not issued any statements. Read more about: United States , Diplomats , Obituary Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Relieves Russian Ambassador to U.S. With No Replacement Named The Kremlin said Anatoly Antonov's replacement would be named “in a timely manner” when asked whether his return indicated a downgrade in Russian-U... 1 Min read Russian Pro-Army Symbols Placed Outside U.S. Embassy in Moscow The Latin letters 'Z' and 'V' — symbols used by the Russian military which have been adopted by high-profile supporters of the offensive — were put... 1 Min read New U.S. Ambassador Lands in Moscow as Relations Near Breaking Point The new U.S. Ambassador to Russia has arrived in Moscow, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow announced Thursday, for what is expected to be a challenging tenure... Russian Plane Lands in U.S. to Remove Diplomats Expelled for Alleged Espionage The plane was allowed to land even though the U.S. closed its airspace to all Russian aircraft after Moscow invaded Ukraine.