Roman Starovoit, who had recently held the position of Transport Minister in Russia, was discovered deceased in what officials suspect to be a self-inflicted act, mere hours after being relieved of his post by President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin’s official portal published the decree early Monday, confirming Starovoit’s removal and naming his understudy, Andrey Nikitin, as interim head.
When questioned about the rationale behind the dismissal, Kremlin press officer Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims that it stemmed from “broken trust,” yet offered no further context or justification.
Russia’s Investigative Committee later reported that Starovoit’s body was found inside a vehicle in Odintsovo, a town on Moscow’s outskirts. A bullet wound was noted, and although inquiries are underway, suicide stands as the primary assumption.
From Regional Governor to Minister: A Swift Rise Ends in Tragedy
Before ascending to the federal transport role in May 2024, Starovoit helmed the Kursk region in southern Russia. Although he vacated the role before an unexpected Ukrainian maneuver, lingering criticism painted him as partly culpable for regional security oversights, according to CNN.
Nationwide Travel Turmoil Shadows Dismissal
His sudden removal coincided with massive disturbances in Russian air traffic. Over the weekend and into Monday, the Federal Agency for Air Transport reported a significant surge in disruptions: 485 cancellations, 88 reroutes, and nearly 1,900 delays.
The agency attributed the turbulence to “external interference” yet withheld specific culprits or causes. However, the Defense Ministry disclosed that they intercepted over 400 incoming long-range Ukrainian projectiles during the same time frame.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s armed forces confirmed an early morning strike on a chemical facility in Krasnozavodsk, north of Moscow. According to them, the site was instrumental in producing flammable ordnance and explosive drone payloads, particularly thermobaric warheads for Shahed-model UAVs.
Ukraine Endures Another Brutal Wave of Strikes
Across Ukrainian soil, carnage continued. At least 12 non-combatants were confirmed dead, with upwards of 90 left maimed following widespread Russian assaults, as per local authorities.
In the early hours of Monday, a barrage of drones struck residential zones in Kharkiv, damaging apartments, a kindergarten, and commercial properties. Among the 29 wounded were children aged 3, 7, and 11.
Just five hours later, a renewed drone wave hit the city again, leaving another 17 individuals—teenagers among them—grievously injured, said Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Ukraine’s Air Force disclosed that, within the last 24 hours, Russian forces launched four missiles and deployed 101 Shahed drones. Of those, 75 were either intercepted or electronically disarmed.
Draft Offices Targeted by Drones in Psychological War
The Ukrainian Land Forces stated that two enlistment centers were struck by Russian drones on Monday, marking the continuation of an unsettling trend. Over the span of roughly one week, six such facilities have been targeted, as reported by CNN.
Authorities believe these assaults aim to paralyze military recruitment efforts. To date, at least two people have been slain and over a dozen hurt as a result of these deliberate attacks.