Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit tragically took his own life on Monday, just hours after being dismissed from his position by President Vladimir Putin. The official announcement of his removal was made public on the Kremlin’s website, where it also named Andrey Nikitin as the acting minister. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that the dismissal stemmed from a “lack of trust” but offered no further explanation.
Starovoit’s body, reportedly found in a car in Odintsovo with a gunshot wound, has sparked an investigation by the Investigative Committee of Russia. While they noted that the prevailing theory is suicide, further circumstances surrounding his death are still being examined.
Having served as the governor of the Kursk region before his appointment as transport minister in May 2024, Starovoit faced scrutiny over security lapses in his region prior to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Reports indicate he was under investigation for his involvement in an alleged embezzlement scheme related to state funds designated for the construction of military fortifications. Notably, his predecessor in the governor role, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested earlier this year in connection with the same investigation.
The timing of Starovoit’s dismissal coincided with significant disruptions in Russian air travel, where hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed due to unspecified “external interference,” as claimed by the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport. This disruption occurred alongside reports from the Russian Defense Ministry, which stated that over 400 Ukrainian long-range strikes were intercepted during the same timeframe.
In Ukraine, at least 12 civilians were reported killed, and more than 90 injured following Russian military attacks, including drone strikes on civilian and commercial areas, primarily in Kharkiv. The Ukrainian Air Force has been actively defending against these attacks, managing to down a significant number of incoming drones and missiles.
This series of events reflects the heightened tensions and grim realities of the ongoing conflict, underscoring the challenges both nations face amid escalating violence and political instability.