Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin leaves a Security Council meeting on Dec. 31 at the United Nations in New York. | Getty Russian ambassador to U.N. dies in New York City

Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, died in New York City on Monday at 64, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement Monday.

"A prominent Russian diplomat has passed away while at work. We'd like to express our sincere condolences to Vitaly Churkin's family," the ministry said in the statement.


Vladimir Safronkov, Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, told The Associated Press that Churkin became ill in his office Monday and was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he passed away. The foreign ministry's official Facebook account said in a post that Churkin "died in harness" a day ahead of this 65th birthday.

They provided no further details of the circumstances surrounding his death. A cause of death was not immediately identified at the hospital.

The Russian embassy in the United States called his passing a "[t]remendous loss for Russian diplomacy" in a tweet Monday.

Numerous colleagues, both recent and past, lavished Churckin's diplomatic prowess and integrity after news of his passing spread. Many stressed that while they often opposed the views of Churkin and Russia, they held deep respect for his commitment to his country.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley touted Churkin as a "gracious colleague" in a statement released Monday.

"We did not always see things the same way, but he unquestionably advocated his country's positions with great skill," she said.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power tweeted Monday that she was "devastated" by his passing, calling Churkin a "diplomatic maestro & deeply caring man who did all he [could] to bridge US-RUS differences."

French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said Churkin "always worked together in a spirit of mutual respect and personal friendship," despite their political differences.

The U.N. held a moment of silence in remembrance of Churkin at their international headquarters in New York City Monday.

Churkin was born in Moscow in 1952. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1974 before joining the Soviet Union's foreign ministry that same year. He has served as Russia's representative to the U.N. since 2006 and was the longest-serving member on the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful body within the U.N.

Churkin previously served as an ambassador to Belgium and Canada, as well as a liaison to NATO.