Starovoit Commits Suicide After Sudden Dismissal by Putin
Russia’s former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit took his own life on Monday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from office.
According to Russian news agencies, Starovoit shot himself in his car in a Moscow suburb shortly after the announcement of his removal. The Investigative Committee confirmed that his body was found inside the vehicle.
Putin’s decree, published on the country’s legal information portal, did not specify reasons for Starovoit’s dismissal. He had only served as transport minister since May 2024, following nearly five years as governor of the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
The Kremlin swiftly named Andrei Nikitin, a former governor of Novgorod, as acting transport minister.
Asked about the abrupt change, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “At present, in the president’s opinion, Andrei Nikitin’s professional qualities and experience will best contribute to ensuring that this agency, which the president described as extremely important, fulfils its tasks and functions.”
Two transport industry sources told Reuters the leadership change had been in motion since before last month’s International Economic Forum in St Petersburg.
Starovoit’s exit came amid escalating crises in Russia’s transport sector. Nearly 300 flights were grounded between July 5–6 due to Ukrainian drone threats, and an explosion at the Ust-Luga port caused an ammonia leak, triggering emergency responses.
However, sources say his position had been under scrutiny for months—not over transport failures, but due to corruption scandals dating back to his tenure in Kursk. Regional officials were arrested for abuse of office, and in April, Starovoit’s successor, Alexei Smirnov, was charged with embezzling defence funds.
Starovoit had overseen Kursk during Ukraine’s unprecedented cross-border incursion into Russian territory last year.
