Former Russian Transport Minister Commits Suicide After Being Dismissed by Putin

Moscow.- Roman Vladimirovich Starovoyt, 53, former Russian Minister of Transport, was found dead this Monday in his car in Odintsovo, on the outskirts of Moscow, a few hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him for “loss of confidence”.

Dismissal and context

Starovoyt was appointed minister in May 2024, after serving as governor of the Kursk region between 2019 and 2024. Today, Monday, July 7, 2025, he was dismissed without detailed public cause, according to a presidential decree. Andrey Nikitin, former governor of Novgorod and until then deputy minister, was immediately appointed as interim minister.

Suicide under investigation

The investigation by Russia’s Investigative Committee indicates that the former minister shot himself with an honorary pistol —presumably a Makarov— inside his Tesla Model X. Sources close to the matter, cited by Izvestiya and Reuters, claim that the weapon was delivered to them in 2023.

Investigating link to corruption case

His dismissal coincides with a corruption scandal that arose in the Kursk region, where officials linked to the former minister allegedly diverted funds intended for border fortifications. His successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested and allegedly provided testimony implicating him.

Reactions and Reception

His death adds to a series of violent or mysterious deaths of high-ranking Russian officials since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Several publications highlight the recent chaos in Russian air transport — nearly 500 canceled flights and almost 2,000 delayed — attributed to Ukrainian drone attacks, as context for the operational deterioration under its command.