Putin Fires Transport Head As Drones Shut Russian Airports, 'Shadow' Tankers Struck

Russia's Transport Minister, formerly the governor of embattled Kursk oblast, was fired by Putin after a weekend of airport shutdowns, hundreds of flight cancellations and another in a series of mysterious fires on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers which are used to surreptitiously export Russian oil to foreign buyers. 

When you're the undisputed leader, you have to blame someone...JL

Tim Zadorzhnyy reports in the Kyiv Independent:

President Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit today, following a series of high-profile disruptions to Russia's aviation and shipping sectors. Starovoit's firing comes after nearly 300 flights were grounded at major Russian airports on July 5–6 due to threats from Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia's Federal Aviation Agency confirmed 287 flights were delayed or canceled at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, and Nizhny Novgorod's Airport due to drones. Adding to the turmoil, an explosion aboard a tanker at the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast caused an ammonia leak. Five tankers have been damaged by explosions at Russian ports since the start of 2025.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit on July 7, following a series of high-profile disruptions to Russia's aviation and shipping sectors.

The official decree was published on Russia's legal information portal. No reason was given, but Starovoit's departure comes after nearly 300 flights were grounded at major Russian airports on July 5–6 due to security threats from Ukrainian drone attacks.

Adding to the turmoil, an explosion aboard the Eco Wizard tanker at the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast caused an ammonia leak on July 6, prompting an emergency response.

Starovoit, sanctioned by Ukraine and Western countries for his role in the war against Ukraine, had served as governor of Russia's Kursk Oblast before being appointed transport minister in May 2024.

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According to the Russian state-controlled newspaper Vedomosti, Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin, a former Novgorod Oblast governor, is a leading candidate to replace Starovoit.

On July 6, the Russian Federal Aviation Agency confirmed that 287 flights were delayed or canceled at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, and Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino Airport due to safety concerns from drone activity.

Kyiv's drone campaign, which has increasingly disrupted civilian air travel in Russia, is part of Ukraine's broader strategy to undermine Russia's logistics far beyond the front line.

Russian authorities said the ammonia leak at Ust-Luga was "minor," but the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel, Baza, reported that an unexplained explosion preceded the incident.

The Eco Wizard tanker is believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" — a network of vessels used to bypass international sanctions on Russian oil and chemical exports. Five tankers have been damaged by explosions at Russian ports since the start of 2025.

The Kremlin has not made a formal statement on the minister's dismissal.