Roman Starovoit, Russia’s former transport minister and ex-governor of the Kursk region, was discovered deceased in his car in Odintsovo, a neighborhood west of Moscow, on Monday. Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that the 53-year-old had a gunshot wound, and a firearm, previously presented to him as an official gift, was found nearby. The agency is investigating the circumstances, with suicide being the primary line of inquiry.
Starovoit’s death followed his dismissal by President Vladimir Putin earlier that day, after serving as transport minister since May 2024. Prior to this role, he governed the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, for nearly five years. Russian media reports suggest his sacking may be connected to an ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of state funds allocated for defensive fortifications in Kursk. These fortifications were cited as inadequate during a Ukrainian military incursion into the region in August 2024, the largest foreign incursion into Russian territory since World War II. Ukrainian forces were later repelled from Kursk.
In April, Starovoit’s successor as Kursk governor, Alexei Smirnov, faced charges related to the misappropriation of defense funds. Following Starovoit’s dismissal, Andrei Nikitin, former governor of the Novgorod region, was named acting transport minister. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Nikitin’s professional experience aligns with the demands of the transport ministry, which President Putin described as a critical agency.
The investigation into Starovoit’s death and the events leading to his dismissal remains ongoing.