Chaos in Kremlin as panicking Putin fires right-hand man after Russia grinds to halt – Daily Express

Vladimir Putin has dramatically fired his loyalist transport minister in the wake of massive disruption in air travel in Russia around Moscow and St Petersburg. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled at crippled major air hubs over the weekend and early on Monday.
Roman Starovoit, 53, was axed by the dictator this morning without explanation. The flight disruption appears to have been triggered by security concerns over buzzing Ukrainian drones, which led to a switch-off of Russian mobile signals.Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
There was speculation that Ukraine had deliberately sought to trigger airport chaos as a new strategy, hitting back at ceaseless missile and drone strikes by Putin’s forces.
Starovoit presided over a weekend of disruption but was also rumoured to be facing a damaging corruption probe linked to border defences in the Kursk region, where he was previously governor.
A total of 485 flights were cancelled between Saturday and today, with 1,900 services delayed.
Some 43,000 ticket refunds have been issued so far, with 94,000 people accommodated in hotels by airlines.
Impatient passengers were marooned in overcrowded terminals. The worst-hit airports were major hubs Sheremetyevo in Moscow and Pulkovo in St Petersburg, where 7,000 stranded flyers were marooned this morning.
But multiple regional airports were hit too, including in Siberia. The cost of the mayhem was put at £186 million – and rising.
“Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airports are aimed at undermining air logistics,” said Telegram channel Kremlin Whisperer.
“Schedule disruptions, delays of hundreds of flights, suspension of operations at five airports – all this is becoming not just a tactical, but a strategic action aimed at shaking the usual rhythm of life and demonstrating the vulnerability of the system.”
However, no civilian airport was directly hit in recent days by Ukrainian drones.
Putin was said to have been displeased with technocrat Starovoit for failing to implement a crisis management plan to cope with the fallout from the war, including Western sanctions on plane repairs.
The Transport Minister is expected to be replaced by his deputy Andrei Nikitin, who is reported to be close to both powerful defence minister Andrei Belousov and Putin’s daughter Katerina Tikhonova, who appears to be growing in sway in Kremlin power circles.
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