Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit Dies by Suicide Hours After Dismissal

Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead by suicide on Monday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin relieved him of his duties, Russian authorities confirmed.

Putin dismissed Starovoit earlier in the day, and the decree announcing his removal was published on the Kremlin’s official website. Deputy Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin was named acting minister.

When asked for the reason behind the dismissal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it was due to a “lack of trust” but did not offer an alternative explanation.

Later that day, the Investigative Committee of Russia said Starovoit’s body was discovered inside a vehicle in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow, with a gunshot wound. Authorities stated that while investigations are ongoing, suicide is the leading theory.

In a separate incident on Monday, Andrey Korneichuk, 42, an official with the Federal Agency for Rail Transport, also died—reportedly of “acute heart failure” at his workplace. Officials say there is no indication the two deaths are connected.

Starovoit had only recently assumed the role of transport minister in May 2024. He previously served as governor of the Kursk region, a position he left before Ukraine’s surprise border incursion. Despite stepping down before the attack, he faced criticism for alleged lapses in regional security.

On Monday, Russian media outlets—including state broadcaster Vesti, RBC, and Kommersant—reported that Starovoit was under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of funds intended for constructing military fortifications in Kursk. Kommersant claimed he was facing imminent arrest. His predecessor in Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, who had once served as his deputy, was detained in April in connection with the same case.

Starovoit’s removal also coincided with major disruptions in Russia’s airspace. Over the weekend and into Monday, the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport reported 485 flight cancellations, 88 diversions, and nearly 1,900 delays. The agency attributed the chaos to “external interference,” without elaboration.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed over 400 Ukrainian long-range strikes were intercepted during that same period. Ukraine’s military also confirmed it had targeted a chemical plant in Krasnozavodsk, north of Moscow, early Monday. According to Kyiv, the plant manufactures ammunition and thermobaric warheads for Shahed-type drones.