US says no sign of foul play in death of embassy staffer in Kyiv

The State Department on Wednesday confirmed there is no sign of foul play in the recent death of a U.S. Embassy staffer who was working in Ukraine.

An unnamed U.S. government employee was working “under chief of mission authority” in Kyiv at the time of his death, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing Wednesday. 

Miller touched upon the swirling conspiracy theories surrounding the staffer’s death on Wednesday. 

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our colleague,” Miller said. “I hate to even bring this up, but I know sometimes conspiracy theories spin out of control … that it is our understanding he died of natural causes and there is no sign of foul play.”

Miller did not have any further comment on the staffer or the circumstances of his death. 

Online Ukrainian newspaper Strana UA reported Tuesday the staffer was found in a hotel room, citing law enforcement sources.

Ukrainian news outlet The New Voice of Ukraine (NV) also reported the employee’s body was found at Kyiv’s Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. There were no signs of bodily injury, and the hotel room door was closed from the inside, NV added. 

The employee arrived in Ukraine on June 15, NV and Strana UA both reported, without expanding upon the details of the trip.