Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit died by suicide on Monday, July 7, just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his position.
His body was found with a gunshot wound inside a car in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow. Russian investigators said the main theory is suicide, but the circumstances are still under investigation.
Earlier that day, Putin signed a decree removing Starovoit from office, appointing his deputy, Andrey Nikitin, as acting minister. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the dismissal was due to a “lack of trust” but did not provide another reason.
Before becoming transport minister in May 2024, Starovoit served as governor of Russia’s Kursk region. Although he left before Ukraine’s surprise incursion into the area, he was partially blamed for security lapses. Russian media reported he was under investigation for embezzlement of state funds meant for building fortifications, with some outlets indicating he was facing arrest. His predecessor as Kursk governor, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested in April in connection with the same case.
Starovoit’s dismissal came amid major disruptions to Russian air travel. Over the weekend and into Monday, the Federal Agency for Air Transport reported 485 flight cancellations, 88 diversions, and around 1,900 delays, citing “external interference.” Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said more than 400 Ukrainian long-range strikes were intercepted in the same timeframe. Ukraine also claimed responsibility for striking a chemical plant north of Moscow that produces ammunition and drone warheads.
Inside Ukraine, at least 12 civilians were killed and over 90 injured in Russian attacks within a 24-hour period. In Kharkiv, drone strikes hit a residential building, kindergarten, and commercial area, injuring at least 29 people, including three children. Hours later, another wave injured at least 17 more. Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down or jamming 75 out of 101 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia.
Ukrainian officials also said two military recruitment offices were struck by Russian drones on Monday, bringing to six the number of such offices hit in just over a week. These attacks have killed at least two people and injured more than a dozen, which Ukraine believes is an attempt to disrupt its enlistment efforts.
