Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit Dies by Suicide After Being Fired by Putin

Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead at his home in Myakinino village near Moscow. Reports say he shot himself with a gun given to him by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023. His death came just hours after President Vladimir Putin removed him from his post.

No official reason was given for Starovoit’s dismissal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment. Putin quickly appointed Starovoit’s deputy, Andrey Nikitin, as the new acting transport minister.

Starovoit’s firing followed a weekend of chaos at major Russian airports. Over 485 flights were canceled, and 1,900 were delayed. Thousands of passengers were stranded at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airports. Airlines refunded 43,000 tickets and provided hotel stays for 94,000 travelers.

The disruptions were partly caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airports. These attacks targeted air logistics, causing delays and cancellations across the country. Some regional airports in Siberia were also affected. The financial loss is estimated at £186 million and rising.

A Telegram channel linked to Kremlin insiders said the drone strikes were meant to “undermine air logistics” and show “the vulnerability of the system.”