Russia’s former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit killed himself on Monday after being fired by President Vladimir Putin, Russian authorities said.
According to Kremlin-controlled media, Starovoit was found dead with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo near Moscow. Officials said they believe it was a suicide.
Putin had fired Starovoit earlier Monday without giving an official reason for his dismissal, but airports across Russia have faced multiple delays, cancellations and stranded passengers over the weekend due to Ukrainian drone attacks.
On Sunday, an explosion aboard the Eco Wizard tanker at a port in the Leningrad region triggered an ammonia leak, adding to the crisis engulfing Russia’s transportation sector.
Starovoit was appointed as Russia’s transport minister in May 2024. Before his time as minister, he spent almost five years as acting governor and head of the Kursk region bordering Ukraine.
