Ex-Russian Transport Minister Dies After Putin's Dismissal

Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit was found dead outside Moscow on Monday, hours after being removed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian investigation committee reported.

His death is being considered as a case of suicide, according to the authorities. The investigative committee said in a statement on its Telegram channel that they were establishing the circumstances of the death of Starovoit. It added that his body was found inside his car with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo region on the outskirts of Moscow, and that the main hypothesis for his death was suicide. Starovoit, 53, a former governor of the Kursk region, took charge of the transport portfolio in May 2024. Starovoit's dismissal came amid air chaos caused by Ukrainian drone attacks and sabotage.

He was replaced by Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin, whose appointment is to be ratified by the Duma. Russia is facing major transportation challenges due to the war in Ukraine, which began in 2022. In addition to the constant cases of sabotage, fires, and explosions on transportation lines - primarily railways -, daily drone attacks have caused thousands of flight cancellations and postponements for security reasons. Over the weekend alone, the air transport agency, Rosaviatsia, recorded nearly 500 flight cancellations and 2,000 postponements.