Another Russian Transport Ministry official has died on Monday. Andrey Korneichuk, 42, who worked for the Federal Agency for Rail Transport, passed away amid news about the alleged suicide of former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.

Korneichuk died at his workplace, in a building on Staraya Basmannaya Street, according to local media reports, which said he suddenly stood up during a meeting and collapsed.

There was no clear connection between the two transport officials’ deaths.

Roman Starovoit's body was discovered in a personal car in a suburb of Moscow, with a gunshot wound just hours after being dismissed by President Vladimir Putin. His dismissal is allegedly linked to a cancellation of hundreds of flights across Russia due to a mass disruption caused by Ukrainian drone attacks over the weekend. 

Acording to a statement from Russia’s Investigative Committee, the death appears to be a suicide related to a corruption probe.

Kommersant reported that Starovoit was found with a Makarov pistol that he had been awarded in 2003 for his service “ensuring public safety” in his role as the governor of the Kursk region.

Starovoit previously served as governor of the Kursk region from 2019 until 2024 before being appointed transport minister. 

His successor as governor was arrested in connection with a corruption scandal, after investigators alleged that more than 1 billion roubles (nearly $12.7 million) had been embezzled from federal funds intended to bolster the region’s defence against a potential Ukrainian attack.

Other Kursk officials implicated in the case had testified against Starovoit, suggesting he may have been under investigation or facing possible arrest.

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