Russian Ex-Transport Minister Dies by Gunshot Just Hours After Dismissal
It’s a story that’s equal parts shocking and telling — Roman Starovoit, Russia’s former transport minister, was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car, mere hours after President Vladimir Putin signed the order to remove him from office. The official version from investigators is that Starovoit died by suicide, but the surrounding circumstances are raising serious questions and stirring speculation both inside Russia and abroad.
Starovoit, once a prominent political figure and former governor of the Kursk region from 2018 to 2024, had been serving as transport minister since May 2024. He had a key role in overseeing infrastructure development and previously supervised the construction of defensive fortifications in Kursk — a region bordering Ukraine. This made him a visible part of the Russian administration’s military and civil defense response following the Ukraine invasion.
The exact timeline of his dismissal and subsequent death is murky. Although the Kremlin released a decree removing Starovoit from office early Monday morning, some Russian media outlets — including Forbes Russia — are reporting that he may have died as early as Friday. One Duma member even said he had been dead “for quite some time” before the announcement of his dismissal was made public. This confusion over timing only deepens the mystery.
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There’s also speculation that his death may be linked to an ongoing corruption scandal. Reports suggest that several officials in the Kursk region were under investigation for embezzling nearly 1 billion roubles — around £10 million — meant for regional defense. Some of those accused reportedly gave testimony against Starovoit, raising the possibility that he may have been next in line for criminal charges now that he had lost his government post — and the political protection that comes with it.
He was found with a Makarov pistol, a weapon he had been awarded back in 2003 for his public service. The irony of being honored with a symbol of duty and later dying by it underscores the tragic arc of his story. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that Starovoit was dismissed due to a “lack of trust,” he also refused to elaborate on the reasons behind the sacking.
To add to the intrigue, another senior official from the federal roads agency, Andrei Korneichuk, also died suddenly the same day — reportedly from a heart attack. No connection has been officially established, but the timing is uncanny.
All of this unfolded amid a weekend of chaos in Russia’s transportation system, triggered by a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks. Nearly 500 flights were cancelled and more than 1,500 delayed, stranding passengers at major airports like Sheremetyevo in Moscow and Pulkovo in St. Petersburg. The drone strikes were part of Ukraine’s intensified efforts to push back against Russian advances, with both sides now relying heavily on drone warfare.
In the end, Roman Starovoit’s sudden death may be seen as another piece in the increasingly volatile puzzle of Russian politics — a reminder of how quickly power can fade, and how brutal the fallout can be when it does.
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