Ex-Submarine Commander Killed in Crimea Blast

A former Ukrainian naval officer who switched allegiance to Russia during its 2014 annexation of Crimea was reportedly killed in a bomb attack in Sevastopol on Thursday.

Russian Telegram channels identified the man as Robert Shageyev, who commanded Ukraine’s only submarine, the Zaporizhzhia, at the time of the annexation. He subsequently joined Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and served as deputy commander of a submarine brigade.

The explosive device was reportedly planted in a trash can in a park in Sevastopol and detonated near Shageyev, killing him at the scene.

Sevastopol’s Russian-installed governor said a woman had been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack on behalf of Ukrainian special services. The Federal Security Service (FSB) identified her as a Russian citizen. Ukraine has not commented on the allegations.

Shageyev faced treason charges in Ukraine following his decision to join Russian forces. Ukrainian sources also accused him of involvement in Kalibr missile strikes against Ukraine.

(nv)