WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit early this morning, according to a decree published by the Kremlin.
The government did not provide an official explanation for Starovoit's dismissal, but it comes after Ukrainian drone attacks over the weekend caused chaos in Russian air traffic, leaving passengers stranded at airports while flights were massively canceled.
According to data from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport, Russian airlines canceled 485 flights from Saturday to Monday, 88 flights had to be redirected, and 1,900 flights were delayed.
Airlines had to issue 43,000 ticket refunds, provide accommodation for 94,000 passengers, and cover food and drink costs worth 354,000 rubles (around 3,800 euros). The pro-government portal Kommersant reported that the transport problems will cost the state billions of rubles (more than 200,000 euros).
Ukrainian drones have repeatedly forced Russia to close its airspace to civilian flights, while Kyiv targets military factories and other facilities, trying to exert pressure inside Russia.
Starovoit, former governor of the Kursk region, was appointed head of the Ministry of Transport in 2024.
