Russian minister Roman Starovoit found dead after dismissal by Putin amid corruption scandal allegations. Kremlin
Kremlin Investigation Scandal Surrounds Russian Minister Suicide
The official decree announcing Starovoit’s removal appeared on the Kremlin’s legal portal early Monday, with Deputy Minister Andrey Nikitin temporarily taking over the role.
While no formal reason was given, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected claims that the firing was due to a lack of trust.
However, Starovoit’s sudden death has intensified focus on a growing corruption scandal.
Russian state and independent outlets reported that he had recently come under investigation for the misuse of state funds designated for military fortifications in the Kursk region.
His former deputy and predecessor in Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested in April in connection with the same case.
Authorities discovered Starovoit’s body inside a vehicle in Odintsovo, west of Moscow, with a gunshot wound. Russia’s Investigative Committee said that suicide remains the “main theory” but noted that all circumstances are being examined.
Roman Starovoit Death Followed Corruption Probe and Legal Pressure
Before his federal appointment in 2024, Starovoit governed the border region of Kursk. Although he left before Ukraine’s surprise cross-border strike in late 2024, Russian media tied regional security failures to his administration.
According to local broadcasts, the investigation against Starovoit had reached an advanced stage, and some reports indicated he was facing imminent arrest. Analysts now suggest that the pressure of potential prosecution may have contributed to his decision to take his own life.
Putin Minister Dismissal Coincides With National Aviation Chaos
Starovoit’s exit and death occurred during a wider crisis in Russia’s transportation infrastructure. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency reported that over 2,400 commercial flights were affected by weekend disruptions, including 485 cancellations and nearly 2,000 delays.
The agency cited “external interference” for the delays but offered no technical explanation. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces intercepted more than 400 long-range drone attacks launched by Ukraine during the same period.
Ukraine later confirmed it had targeted a chemical facility in Krasnozavodsk, which it alleged produced components for Iranian-made Shahed drones. The strike marked a new escalation in the long-running conflict between the two nations.
Russian Minister Suicide Highlights Domestic Fallout of Ukraine Conflict
Back in Ukraine, Russian strikes killed at least 12 civilians and injured more than 90 over the same 24-hour window, according to local emergency services.
In Kharkiv, drones hit a kindergarten, residential blocks, and commercial sites, injuring dozens—including three young children.
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The Ukrainian Air Force said it managed to intercept 75 out of 101 drones launched by Russia overnight. The attacks also targeted two military enlistment offices, part of a recent wave of drone strikes aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s mobilization system.
According to the Ukrainian Land Forces, six recruitment centers have been attacked in the past week alone, leaving at least two dead and over a dozen injured. Kyiv officials claim these strikes are part of Moscow’s effort to hinder Ukraine’s ability to replenish its forces.
