Roman Starovoit, the former Russian Minister of Transport, has been found dead, reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This tragic news comes just hours after his unexpected dismissal by President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The Kremlin did not disclose the reasons for Starovoit’s firing, which has sparked speculation and rumors regarding his political standing.

Starovoit was appointed to his ministerial role in May 2024, following nearly nine years as governor of the Kursk region. His tenure coincided with significant military developments, including a portion of his region being captured by Ukrainian forces in August 2024. His successor, Aleksey Smirnov, faced legal trouble shortly after, accused of embezzlement related to border fortification funds. Reports suggest that Starovoit was about to become embroiled in the same scandal when he died.

While the Investigative Committee is looking into the circumstances surrounding his death, Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, indicated that Starovoit may have passed away some time before the announcement. The spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, avoided confirming any loss of trust from Putin regarding Starovoit’s performance, illustrating the complexity of the political climate in Russia today.