Shock in Moscow: Putin fires transport minister Roman Starovoyt, hours later he's found dead with gunshot wound
Roman Starovoyt
, was discovered dead just hours after being dismissed by Vladimir Putin. His untimely death, ruled an apparent suicide, comes amid a deepening corruption scandal and mounting pressure from Russia's faltering war effort.
His firing followed scrutiny over border failures during Ukraine's Kursk incursion. The Putin minister was found dead in Oman. According to Russia's Investigative Committee, Starovoyt, 53, was discovered on Monday in his private vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was in his home on the outskirts of Moscow, in Odintsovo. His death has prompted a criminal investigation, as per a report by Newsweek.
Prior to his appointment to the transportation position by Putin in May 2024, Starovoyt served as the governor of the Kursk region of Russia.
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However, before he resigned, Starovoyt's work preparing the border defenses came under increased scrutiny due to Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, and his deputy was linked to a corruption scandal involving the border fortifications, according to The Moscow Times.
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Andrey Nikitin, a Starovoyt deputy, has been named acting minister of transportation by Putin. Evgeny Minchenko, a political analyst, described Putin's firing of Starovoyt as "predictable' and the events in Kursk had "caught up with him."
Officials suspect suicide, as Starovoyt had reportedly been linked to a corruption case involving defense construction funds.
Was he connected to the Kursk corruption scandal?
The unexpected Ukrainian invasion started in August of last year, and Alexi Smirnov took over as Kursk's governor from May to December, succeeding Starovoyt. Because of how he handled the incursion, he resigned.
In April 2025, the Russian Interior Ministry arrested Smirnov and his first deputy, Alexei Dedov, on charges of embezzling public funds related to contracts for building Kursk fortifications.
Russian media, including the newspaper Kommersant and pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, reported that Starovoyt was involved in the case.
There was no explanation provided by the Kremlin for Starovoyt's termination. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Putin's decree would have indicated that the dismissal was due to a lack of confidence, as per the report.
Peskov claimed that "in the case of Starovoyt, there was no such wording," according to state-run RIA Novosti.
How is the Ukraine war straining Russia's transport system?
Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has had a significant impact on Russia's transportation sector, with high interest rates, disruptions to the transport network from Ukrainian attacks, and Western sanctions affecting key sectors.
At the airports in Sheremetyevo, Moscow, and Pulkovo, St. Petersburg, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed over the weekend, resulting in lengthy wait times for thousands of passengers.
FAQs
Why did Putin fire Roman Starovoyt?
No official reason was given, but analysts attribute his dismissal to Ukraine's incursion into Kursk and a corruption investigation involving border defense failures.
Is Starovoyt's death under investigation?
Yes, Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation, but it is currently believed to be a suicide.
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