Ukraine Russian Transport Minister Dies by Suicide Hours After Dismissal by Putin

[Social Media]

 

Russian Transport Minister Dies by Suicide Hours After Dismissal by Putin

Roman Starovoit, Russia’s recently dismissed transport minister and former governor of the Kursk region, died by suicide on Monday just hours after President Vladimir Putin removed him from office, according to Russian authorities.

 

Starovoit’s termination was formalized through a presidential decree released on the Kremlin’s official website that morning. He was swiftly replaced by his deputy, Andrey Nikitin, who was appointed acting minister. When questioned about the reason for Starovoit’s sudden removal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated it was not due to a “lack of trust,” but did not offer any further explanation.

 

Later that day, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that Starovoit’s body was discovered in a vehicle in Odintsovo, a suburb outside Moscow. He had sustained a gunshot wound, and while the case remains under investigation, authorities confirmed that “the main theory is suicide.”

 

In a striking coincidence, another senior figure in Russia’s transportation sector also died on the same day. Andrey Korneichuk, a 42-year-old official with the Federal Agency for Rail Transport, reportedly died at his workplace, with initial reports suggesting “acute heart failure.” Authorities have found no connection between the two deaths.

 

Before being named transport minister in May 2024, Starovoit served as the governor of the Kursk region in southern Russia. Although he left office before a surprise Ukrainian incursion into the area, he had been partially blamed for the security lapses that allowed the breach. His record came under renewed scrutiny in recent days.

 

Russian media outlets, including state broadcaster Vesti, the independent business site RBC, and the national daily Kommersant, all reported Monday that Starovoit was under investigation for allegedly embezzling government funds. These funds had been allocated for constructing military fortifications in the Kursk region. Kommersant stated that Starovoit was likely facing arrest. The same investigation previously led to the April arrest of Alexei Smirnov, Starovoit’s predecessor as Kursk governor and former deputy.

 

His dismissal also coincided with mounting problems in Russia’s transportation infrastructure. Over the weekend and into Monday, the country faced major disruptions in air travel. According to the Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport, 485 flights were canceled, 88 were diverted, and approximately 1,900 were delayed. While the agency cited “external interference” as the cause, it did not elaborate further.

 

However, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that more than 400 Ukrainian long-range strikes had been intercepted over the same period. The combination of air traffic chaos and military strain added further tension to a day already marked by two deaths within the Transport Ministry.

The Kremlin has not commented further on Starovoit’s death, nor on the allegations surrounding the embezzlement probe. The investigation continues.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN  2025-07-09

 

 

[HighPriority]

At least his airplane didn’t crash…

[MicroB]

Found dead in his Tesla....... Stories circulating that he was found before he was sacked.

 

But why are top Russians still driving American Teslas. Musk surely has the means to brick every single one, preferebly about 8am local time, on a cold wet November. Plus Tesla will have a full record of owners.

 

 

[ronster]

Suicide 🙄 yeah sure 🙈

[Geoffggi]

9 minutes ago, ronster said:

Suicide 🙄 yeah sure 🙈

 

Maybe it was assisted suicide .........😬🤪

[mushroomdave]

[Gsxrnz]

Suicide is just a normal Occupational Health & Safety issue in the former USSR. 

[frank83628]

Always posted implying something suspicious when it comes to Putin or Russia.

 

A vocal critic of macron found dead -suicide

A plastic surgeon linked his 'wife' found dead - suicide

 

Both within days of each other

 

But no coverage here

[JonnyF]

RIP. 

 

Losing your job can be very stressful. 

[expat_4_life]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

RIP. 

 

Losing your job can be very stressful. 

i wonder what this Transport Minister was possibly up to ... did the crime but couldn't face the time is one explanation.

[FlorC]

Now why can't fired people like Clapper, Brennan , Comey, Pompeo 

follow this excellent example ?

[Callmeishmael]

3 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Now why can't fired people like Clapper, Brennan , Comey, Pompeo 

follow this excellent example ?

Possibly because 'assisted suicide' is a bit more common in Russia than it is in the US!

[save the frogs]

Come on.

He surely had enough money to retire in Phuket and meet the 800K visa requirement? 

 

[FlorC]

2 minutes ago, Callmeishmael said:

Possibly because 'assisted suicide' is a bit more common in Russia than it is in the US!

Maybe the US should follow Russia's lead.

[frank83628]

9 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

i wonder what this Transport Minister was possibly up to ... did the crime but couldn't face the time is one explanation.

If you read further than the headline , it says embezzlement of government funds

[ignore it]

Roman Starovoit reportedly died by ‘suicide’ from a self inflicted gunshot to the back of the head — proving once again that some exits are just too well aimed to be coincidental.

[Tug]

Hey at least he didn’t get a Russian flying lesson without benefit of an airplane….then again putin didn’t murder him with a plane load of passengers like he did to his chef….theres that ……

[Watawattana]

4 hours ago, MicroB said:

Found dead in his Tesla....... Stories circulating that he was found before he was sacked.

 

But why are top Russians still driving American Teslas. Musk surely has the means to brick every single one, preferebly about 8am local time, on a cold wet November. Plus Tesla will have a full record of owners.

 

 

With it being a Tesla, and a hose from the exhaust pipe not working, he had to be shot so that it looked like suicide 😆

[Eric Loh]

23 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Now why can't fired people like Clapper, Brennan , Comey, Pompeo 

follow this excellent example ?

Fired by Trump is a badge of honour.Excellent achievement in standing up to Trump's corruption. 

[frank83628]

3 minutes ago, Tug said:

Hey at least he didn’t get a Russian flying lesson without benefit of an airplane….then again putin didn’t murder him with a plane load of passengers like he did to his chef….theres that ……

Come on Alex Jones... tell us more

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

Starovoit was under investigation for allegedly embezzling government funds

IF one embezzled funds from Putin and one is a Transportation Minister, stands to reason that one has the means, skill and opportunity to transport oneself the hell out of there, asap.

[Tug]

16 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Come on Alex Jones... tell us more

They have that airliner on film on fire full of passengers being burned alive as it spun in .it was all over the western news …..perhaps were you are from it wasn’t allowed on air.a very very messed up unprofessional murder usually putin is a bet better at it.

[frank83628]

22 minutes ago, Tug said:

They have that airliner on film on fire full of passengers being burned alive as it spun in .it was all over the western news …..perhaps were you are from it wasn’t allowed on air.a very very messed up unprofessional murder usually putin is a bet better at it.

I am in Thailand, i also have what known as 'an internet connection', i can watch pretty much anything.

So an airliner is on fire and your assumption is Putin did it.... did he bring down Concorde too?

 

You certainly do live in a bizarre fantasy bubble

[Tailwagsdog]

He was Fired ...

 

[Peter Crow]

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Maybe the US should follow Russia's lead.

Yep, TACO said he was lookin for a solution to the Elon problem...

[newbee2022]

Not a country to live. Not healthy.

Many Generals, Ministers, Opposition supporters, Oligarchs aso got tragic fatal accidents or fatal health issues.

You can't be sure to be safe.

[frank83628]

13 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Not a country to live. Not healthy.

Many Generals, Ministers, Opposition supporters, Oligarchs aso got tragic fatal accidents or fatal health issues.

You can't be sure to be safe.

Clinton body count is up to 48

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

airliner on film on fire full of passengers being burned alive a

Where? Haven't seen it today 😳

[mfd101]

Sob! Sob! Vlad doesn't love me any more!

[FlorC]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Fired by Trump is a badge of honour.Excellent achievement in standing up to Trump's corruption. 

Funny , those 4 are some of the definitions of corruption.