Gunshot Wound Kills Russian Minister After Putin Fired Him
A mysterious firing, a suicide in a car, and Kremlin silence: What really happened to Roman Starovoit?
Twitter
Roman Starovoit, Russia’s former Transport Minister, was found dead in his private vehicle on Sunday — just hours after President Vladimir Putin abruptly fired him. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Starovoit died from a gunshot wound, and a handgun — reportedly a 2023 gift from the Interior Ministry — was discovered near his body.
The shocking discovery occurred in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow, barely a day after Putin signed the official dismissal order. No reason was provided for the firing, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to offer any explanation, calling it a “routine personnel decision.”
However, Russian media sources suggest that Starovoit was sacked following a weekend of aviation chaos, including the cancellation or delay of over 2,000 flights across Russia’s major airports. The disruptions, reportedly triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks, led to severe criticism of the Transportation Ministry — and allegedly infuriated the Kremlin.
In addition to the airport debacle, Starovoit may have faced legal trouble tied to his previous role as governor of the Kursk region. Multiple sources report that he was linked to ongoing corruption investigations involving inflated infrastructure contracts and misuse of public funds.
Family sources said the 53-year-old appeared deeply distressed in recent days. He was last seen attending a sporting event where his daughter was competing. Witnesses say he hugged her briefly, said nothing, and left after less than an hour. He was found dead shortly thereafter.
The Kremlin has remained tight-lipped, but the case has ignited widespread speculation. Some believe the suicide was genuine, while others suspect a more sinister motive — especially given the growing list of sudden deaths among Russian officials and oligarchs since the Ukraine war began.
Starovoit has now been replaced by Andrei Nikitin, former governor of Novgorod. Yet the questions remain: Was this truly a tragic personal collapse — or just the latest chapter in Russia’s shadowy world of power, pressure, and purges?