In a dramatic turn of events, former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday, just hours after being abruptly dismissed by President Vladimir Putin. The sudden death of the high-ranking official has raised eyebrows amid Russia’s ongoing political tensions.
Starovoit, who had served as transport minister since 2020, was removed from his post earlier in the day through a terse presidential decree that gave no explanation for his dismissal. The 54-year-old official was later discovered at a residence outside Moscow with what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While Russian investigators have opened what they call a standard procedural probe into the death, the timing has fueled speculation in a country where sudden deaths of officials under mysterious circumstances have become increasingly common. Starovoit’s dismissal came as Russia’s transport sector faces mounting challenges from international sanctions and infrastructure strain due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The former minister had recently overseen controversial projects including the construction of military transport routes near Ukraine and the expansion of sanctions-busting trade corridors with China. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on whether Starovoit’s removal was connected to performance issues, telling reporters only that “personnel decisions are the president’s prerogative.”
This marks at least the seventh sudden death of a high-profile Russian businessman or official in 2025, continuing a pattern that has drawn international attention since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Memorial services for Starovoit are expected to be held later this week in Moscow.
