On August 13, 2026, a powerful explosion rocked Sevastopol, which, according to eyewitnesses, was so strong that residents mistook it for a kamikaze drone strike. The incident occurred on Stoletovskiy Prospect in a residential area. As a result of the explosion, a high-ranking officer of the Russian Navy died, who, according to monitoring Telegram channels and Ukrainian media, is Robert Shagayev, the former commander of the Ukrainian submarine 'Zaporizhzhia'.
Details of the explosion and actions of law enforcement
Preliminary data suggests that the explosive device was hidden in a trash can or placed on a bench along the officer's path. At the moment of the explosion, the man was walking up the stairs with a partner. He died on the spot from the injuries sustained. Eyewitnesses also reported the appearance of a suspicious woman with a backpack who was in the area of houses No. 28 and No. 30 and, according to them, was monitoring the target.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia confirmed the death of a serviceman as a result of the explosion. According to a Focus source, the FSB has already detained a woman suspected of organizing the explosion. Russians lean towards the version that she acted on the orders of Ukrainian intelligence services. At the same time, Ukrainian sources, including RBK-Ukraine and the 'Crimean Wind' channel, report that the liquidation was carried out by 'Budano's Units'.
Who is Robert Shagayev
According to information circulating in the 'VChK-OGPU' and 'Crimean Wind' Telegram channels, the deceased is Captain 1st Rank Robert Shagayev. Until 2014, he served in the Ukrainian Navy and commanded the only submarine of the Ukrainian Navy — 'Zaporizhzhia'.
During the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Shagayev broke his oath and switched sides to Russia. Subsequently, he continued his service in the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, holding the position of commander of the crew of a large submarine in the 4th Submarine Brigade of the Novorossiysk Naval Base. In the Ukrainian database 'Book of Executioners', he is accused of involvement in hostilities at sea and the implementation of cruise missile strikes from sea-based platforms against cities and infrastructure facilities.
Contradictory data
At the moment, there is a discrepancy in the degree of official confirmation of the identity of the deceased. On the one hand, Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels, as well as a number of media outlets (Korrespondent, KP.UA), with a high degree of certainty name the deceased — Robert Shagayev. On the other hand, official press releases from Russian law enforcement agencies are currently limited to confirming the fact of the death of a Navy officer, without publicly disclosing his personal data. Thus, the version that it is indeed Shagayev remains confirmed by sources but is not fixed by an official document.
Context and previous incidents
This incident fits into a series of liquidations of high-ranking Russian military officers and collaborators in occupied territories. Earlier, there were reports of the liquidation of pilots of the elite 'Rubicon' and former SBU General Lyapkin, who also betrayed Ukraine and worked for the FSB. The intensification of counterintelligence work in the southern direction has likely become the reason for the activation of such operations.
