Moscow: Putin dismisses transport minister Roman Starovoit, ending his brief tenure of just over a year as Russia’s top transport official.
A presidential decree has confirmed his removal, but no official reason has been provided for the decision, which comes amid serious disruptions in the country’s air travel sector.
Starovoit was appointed in May 2024 after serving nearly 5 years as governor of Russia’s western Kursk region. Just months after he left the regional role, Ukrainian troops crossed the border into Kursk in what became Kyiv’s largest ground operation inside Russian territory since the conflict began in 2022. His predecessor as transport minister, Vitaly Savelyev, was promoted to deputy prime minister, creating the vacancy that Starovoit filled.
Industry experts believe that the chaos at major Russian airports on July 5 and 6 has contributed to the decision. Hundreds of flights at Sheremetyevo, Pulkovo, and Strigino (Nizhny Novgorod) airports were either canceled or delayed.
According to official reports, on July 5 alone more than 250 flights were canceled and over 270 were delayed. By the evening of July 6, these three airports canceled almost 300 more flights and delayed another 100, severely disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
Analysts estimate that airlines have suffered losses of about 20 billion rubles ($254 million) from these delays and cancellations. Starovoit’s deputy minister, Andrei Nikitin, who previously governed the Novgorod Region, is seen as the likely replacement.
Putin’s decision to remove Transport Minister without comment has triggered speculation about wider government reshuffles as Moscow grapples with the challenges of maintaining internal stability during the ongoing conflict.
The next appointment for the transport minister will be closely watched, given the critical importance of aviation, logistics, and road networks to Russia’s economic resilience.
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