Russian Minister Found Dead Hours After Being Fired By Putin

Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in his car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the statement from Russia's Investigative Committee. The circumstances regarding his death remain under investigation, and the exact time of death has not been confirmed.

The incident occurred a few hours after he was dismissed from his position by Russian President Vladimir Putin. No apparent reason was given for his dismissal, and he was briefly replaced by Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, "At present, in the president's opinion, Andrei Nikitin's professional qualities and experience will best contribute to ensuring that this agency, which the president described as extremely important, fulfils its tasks and functions."

Starovoit had previously served as governor of the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, for almost six years. He was appointed as minister of transport in May 2024. His sudden dismissal and subsequent death have raised several questions, but authorities have yet to release further details. The Investigate Committee stated that it is actively working to determine the full circumstances of the situation.