Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, has died at the age of 66.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced his death on Wednesday, saying “he passed away suddenly.”
The ministry, however, did not disclose the circumstances or cause of his death.
In a statement published on its website, the ministry described Mr Darchiev as an outstanding leader and mentor.
“We have lost an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, a dear colleague and a mentor,” the ministry said.
It added that Mr Darchiev had dedicated his career to one of the most important areas of Russian foreign policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him ambassador to the United States in March 2025, shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
His appointment came amid efforts to improve diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington, which had been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Mr Darchiev previously worked at Russia’s Embassy in Washington before serving as the country’s ambassador to Canada and director of the Foreign Ministry’s North America.
