Roman Starovoit, who was officially dismissed as Russia’s Minister of Transport on July 7, has committed suicide, according to reports from multiple Russian media outlets. The Telegram channels Shot and 112, as well as the television channel Ren TV, initially reported that Starovoit died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow. He was 53.
Later in the day, Russia’s Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko confirmed the politician’s death, saying that Starovoit’s body was found on July 7 in his vehicle. “Investigators are working at the scene to determine the circumstances of the incident,” she said, adding that suicide was being treated as the primary hypothesis in the case.
Starovoit’s death was also confirmed by State Duma Defense Committee chairman Andrey Kartapolov, who told Russian media outlet RTVI that the suicide happened “quite some time ago.”
According to an unnamed source close to law enforcement who was cited by Forbes Russia, Starovoit died on the night of Saturday to Sunday (July 5-6) — more than a full day before the Kremlin officially announced his dismissal. Similar news was circulated by the Telegram channels Baza and SHOT.
Interestingly, Russia’s Transport Ministry reported that Starovoit had taken part in an emergency meeting on July 6 addressing an ammonia leak from a tanker in the port of Ust-Luga. A statement on the ministry’s official Telegram channel, published at 13:13 Moscow time, claimed the session was chaired by Starovoit.
However, the ministry did not release any photos or video footage from the meeting.
Starovoit’s removal as Transport Minister was first announced on the morning of July 7, when the Kremlin published a presidential decree signed by Vladimir Putin. No reason for the dismissal was provided. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified that the decree did not indicate a “loss of trust” in the official.
“When a dismissal is due to loss of trust, it is stated explicitly. As you saw, that language was not used,” Peskov said.
The Kremlin spokesperson added that the working qualities of newly appointed acting minister Andrey Nikitin, in Putin’s view, would help the Ministry of Transport fulfill its duties “effectively.”
Starovoit's dismissal followed a weekend of disruption to Russian air traffic after Ukrainian drone attacks, which left thousands of passengers across the country stranded as flights were grounded.
Russia’s federal air transport agency said airlines canceled 485 flights, diverted 88, and delayed more than 1,900 between Saturday and Monday.
Shot, 112, and the business newspaper Kommersant reported that Alexei Smirnov — who became acting governor of the Kursk Region in May 2024 after Staroviot left the post to become Minister of Transport — allegedly testified against him.
Prior to his appointment to a cabinet position, Starovoit had served as governor of the Kursk Region since October 2018. In December 2024, at a moment when Ukrainian forces were occupying parts of Kursk, Smirnov was replaced by Alexander Khinshtein.
In April 2025, Smirnov was arrested and charged with large-scale fraud involving 1 billion rubles ($11 million) that had allegedly been misused during the construction of fortifications along the border with Ukraine. Three executives from the Kursk Region Development Corporation, along with the heads of several private firms that had received state funding but failed to deliver the contracted construction work, were also detained in connection with the case.
Russia’s Former Transport Minister Dies by Suicide Following Dismissal and Corruption Allegations
Russia’s recently dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit has reportedly died by suicide, according to multiple Russian media outlets, including the pro-government Izvestia, which cited unnamed sources. Starovoit’s body was found in Odintsovo, near Moscow, with preliminary reports suggesting he shot himself with an honorary pistol he had received from the Interior Ministry in 2023.
The incident came just one day after President Vladimir Putin removed Starovoit from office on July 7. His dismissal followed a turbulent week for Russia’s transportation system, including the grounding of nearly 500 flights at major airports due to Ukrainian drone attacks on July 5–6, and a separate explosion aboard the Eco Wizard tanker at the Ust-Luga port that caused an ammonia leak.
Before taking over as transport minister in May 2024, Starovoit served as governor of Kursk Oblast. He had been sanctioned by Ukraine and Western governments over his involvement in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to RIA Novosti, which cited Russia’s Investigative Committee, the former minister’s body was discovered inside his personal vehicle, with signs indicating a gunshot wound. Investigators from the Main Investigative Directorate are now examining the scene. The working theory is suicide, but no final conclusion has been made.
Adding to the intrigue are media reports linking Starovoit to a widening investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure in Kursk. His former deputy in the region, Aleksei Smirnov, was recently detained for allegedly embezzling more than 1 billion rubles - approximately $12 million - in state funds during the construction of defensive infrastructure near Russia’s border. Smirnov is said to have provided testimony that implicated Starovoit in the scheme.
Several of Starovoit’s former associates in Kursk remain under investigation in the same case. Smirnov briefly held the position of acting governor before his arrest.
The timing of Starovoit’s death remains uncertain. Senior lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov, chair of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, confirmed the former minister’s death to RTVI but declined to offer details, stating only that it happened “quite some time ago.”
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