Russia's former transport minister Roman Starovoit was found dead just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.

Starovoit reportedly shot himself in a Moscow suburb after the announcement of his sacking. The Investigative Committee said his body was found in a car.

What do we know about the minister?

The news emerged after it was revealed Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly fired 53-year-old Starovoit. 

"Today, the body of former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found in his private car with a gunshot wound in the Odintsovo district," the Investigative Committee said in a statement. "The main version [considered] is suicide," it added. 

A decree published in Moscow gave no reason for Starovoit leaving his post.

The former governor of the western Russian region of Kursk  had been appointed transport minister in May last year.

Starovoit's deputy, Andrey Nikitin, has been appointed acting transport minister.

His successor as governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, has been detained for alleged fraud.

Ukrainian troops captured dozens of villages in the region in August last year, delivering a temporary but embarrassing setback for the Russian army.

Scandal surrounding successor

Smirnov, who became governor in May 2024, quit in December after Ukrainian troops invaded. The case against him alleges that funds meant for building fortifications on the border with Ukraine were misused.

These fortifications have been under construction since 2022, shortly after Putin ordered Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Starovoit previously stated these facilities were completed, but no investigations against Starovoit are known at this time.

Russian commentators have also pointed to chaos at airports as a possible factor in his dismissal, with hundreds of flights canceled because of frequent Ukrainian drone attacks during the holiday season.

*Editor's note: If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: https://www.befrienders.org/

Edited by: Wesley Rahn