A Russian transport official passed away in office on the same day that Vladimir Putin’s transport minister allegedly committed suicide after being dismissed from his position, according to reports.

Roman Starovoit, who had occupied the role for less than a year, was removed from his position earlier on Monday—just hours before he reportedly ended his own life in Moscow.

Coinciding on the same day, Andrey Korneichuk, deputy head of the Russian Federal Road Agency’s Property Management Department, passed away at the Transportation Ministry’s Moscow headquarters.

According to Telegram channels with close ties to Russian law enforcement, the 42-year-old official died either in his office cabin or during a meeting.

He is said to have stood up suddenly, collapsed to the floor, and died.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Russian state media reported that Korneichuk died at his workplace, possibly from “acute heart failure”.

Korneichuk reportedly died after news broke that Starovoit had been sacked from his post.

There is no indication the deaths are linked.

Meanwhile, telegram channels with links to the Russian security forces reported Starovoit’s cause of death as suicide – claiming the minister was found dead with gunshot wounds.

The firearm, according to Russian media, was an award pistol issued to him in 2023 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Putin was “shocked” over the sudden death of Starovoit.

But the Kremlin refused to be drawn on how Roman Starovoit had died, saying it must be left for the investigation.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “This cannot but shock normal people.

“Naturally, it shocked us too.”

Versions of Starovoit’s death from official sources were constantly changing, with initial reports saying his body had been found at home.

But doubts over his apparent suicide emerged after Russian authorities said he was found inside the car.

Russian cops then confirmed Starovoit’s body was found having shot himself inside his black Tesla.

Press reports and photos clearly showed a body being removed from long grass near the electric car.

Sources close to the Kremlin revealed he had left his ministry after morning meetings like nothing was wrong.

The minister’s 25-year-old girlfriend Polina Korneeva was seen crying at the scene.

She was later driven away in an official Aurus limousine after reportedly identifying his body.

Reports said the last time Starovoit communicated with his family was two days ago.

Starovoit had divorced his wife in 2021, the mother of his two children, and started a relationship with Korneeva.

The dead ex-minister had a daughter 15, and son, 18.

According to sources, on July 5, he arrived at the competition to see his daughter, stayed there for less than an hour, hugged her and left. 

He did not contact his family again.

Starovoit’s passing is the latest in a string of suspicious deaths of Russian officials, oligarchs and insiders since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine began.

Many have died in reported suicides, falls from windows or under mysterious circumstances, fuelling speculation about growing instability behind the Kremlin’s walls.