| Post: | Ambassador |
| Body: | the Russian Federation to Afghanistan |
| Incumbent: | Dmitry Zhirnov |
| Insignia: | Emblem of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.svg |
| Incumbentsince: | 29 April 2020 |
| Appointer: | The President of Russia |
| Formation: | 7 April 1919 |
| First: | as Plenipotentiary Representative |
| Insigniacaption: | Emblem of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia |
| Website: | Embassy of Russia in Kabul |
| Style: | His Excellency |
| Seat: | Kabul |
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Afghanistan is the official representative of the President and the Government of the Russian Federation to Afghanistan.
The ambassador and his staff work at large in the Embassy of Russia in Kabul.[1] The post of Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan is currently held by Dmitry Zhirnov, incumbent since 29 April 2020.[2]
See main article: Afghanistan–Russia relations. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic provided unofficial assistance to the Emirate of Afghanistan during the Third Anglo-Afghan War, helping the country to achieve full independence from British influence. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was also the first country to recognize and established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in 1919., a former diplomatic representative to Denmark, was appointed plenipotentiary to Afghanistan. On 23 July 1923 relations established at the level of embassies.
From 1992 to 2002, during the years of Taliban rule, diplomatic relations were broken off and no ambassadors were appointed.
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plenipotentiary | 13 July 1919 | 1921 | ||
| Fyodor Raskolnikov | Plenipotentiary | 16 July 1921 | 1922 | |
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fyodor Raskolnikov | Plenipotentiary | 1922 | 6 February 1924 | |
| Leonid Stark | Plenipotentiary | 22 April 1924 | 1926 | |
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonid Stark | Plenipotentiary | 1926 | 16 April 1936 | |
| Plenipotentiary | 16 April 1936 | 1 November 1937 | ||
| Plenipotentiary (until 9 May 1941) Ambassador (after 9 May 1941) | 24 December 1937 | 1 September 1943 | ||
| Ambassador | 11 November 1943 | 23 June 1947 | ||
| Ivan Samylovsky | Ambassador | 23 June 1947 | 27 May 1948 | |
| Ambassador | 27 May 1948 | 11 July 1948 | ||
| Ambassador | 6 November 1948 | 10 July 1953 | ||
| Ambassador | 10 July 1953 | 5 June 1960 | ||
| Ambassador | 5 June 1960 | 8 October 1965 | ||
| Ambassador | 8 October 1965 | 11 November 1969 | ||
| Ambassador | 11 November 1969 | 3 October 1972 | ||
| Alexander Puzanov | Ambassador | 3 October 1972 | 1973 | |
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Puzanov | Ambassador | 1978 | 10 November 1979 | |
| Ambassador | 10 November 1979 | 13 August 1986 | ||
| Ambassador | 13 August 1986 | 15 March 1988 | ||
| Ambassador | 15 March 1988 | 14 October 1988 | ||
| Yuli Vorontsov | Ambassador | 14 October 1988 | 15 September 1989 | |
| Ambassador | 15 September 1989 | 25 December 1991 | ||
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | 25 December 1991 | 22 February 1992 | ||
| Ambassador | 24 January 1992 | 31 December 1992 | ||
| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | 21 February 2002 | 17 February 2004 | ||
| Zamir Kabulov | Ambassador | 17 February 2004 | 21 September 2009 | |
| Ambassador | 21 September 2009 | 1 September 2014 | ||
| Ambassador | 18 November 2014 | 29 April 2020 | ||
| Dmitry Zhirnov | Ambassador | 29 April 2020 | ||