Putin fires Russian Transport Minister after drone raids disrupt airspace and flights

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit on Monday following widespread disruption to Russian civilian airspace caused by Ukrainian drone raids, which led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, the Kremlin announced on Monday, after significant disruptions to Russian civilian airspace caused by recent Ukrainian drone raids. No specific reason was given for Starovoit’s dismissal. He had previously served as governor of Russia’s Kursk region and was reappointed transport minister in May 2024.

The firing comes after almost 300 flights were grounded at major Russian airports over the past weekend due to a Ukrainian drone raid. According to Rosaviatsiya, Russia’s federal aviation agency, 485 flights were cancelled on Saturday and Sunday. From early morning Saturday until Monday morning, approximately 1,900 flights were delayed because of “airspace restrictions imposed on airports in central Russia.” Kremlin-controlled media outlet Komersant reported the disruptions cost airlines more than 200,000 euros.

The disruptions followed an escalation in Ukraine’s drone campaign targeting Russian military sites and infrastructure, as Russia continued to intensify aerial attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. On Saturday, Ukraine’s military general staff reported Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region, believed to be home to Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM fighter jets.

The Kremlin said Russian air defense shot down eight Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow late Sunday, part of a total of 90 UAVs launched overnight across Russian territory, the Black Sea, and Crimea. Most of the drones were intercepted over regions bordering Ukraine, but three were also destroyed over the Leningrad region, including St Petersburg, according to Russia’s defense ministry.

Kyiv’s ongoing drone campaign has repeatedly disrupted civilian air travel in Russia. In early May, just days before Moscow’s Victory Day parade, Ukrainian drone activity caused significant disruption at Moscow’s airports, affecting 350 flights.

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