Liquidation of the 'Judas of Striletskaya Bay': Ex-Ukrainian Submarine Commander Shagayev Blown Up in Sevastopol

Strike at the Heart of the Fleet: Explosion on Stoletovskiy Prospect

The morning of August 13, 2026, became a turning point for the military situation in Crimea. In Sevastopol, on Stoletovskiy Prospect, a powerful explosion claimed the life of a high-ranking officer of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The deceased was Captain 1st Rank Robert Shagayev, who held the post of Deputy Commander of the 4th Separate Submarine Brigade. The incident occurred in the residential areas of the city: an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a trash can next to a bench in a square. The bomb detonated at the moment Shagayev, accompanied by an acquaintance, was descending the stairs. The officer died instantly from his injuries; his companion was unharmed.

Who is Robert Shagayev: From Swearing Allegiance to Ukraine to 'Kalibr' Missiles

The liquidation of Shagayev carries colossal symbolic weight. A native of Feodosia, he was one of the most prominent figures in the Ukrainian Navy before 2014, commanding the diesel-electric submarine 'Zaporizhzhia' — the only submarine in the composition of the Ukrainian Navy. In March 2014, during the annexation of Crimea, Shagayev first publicly promised to 'stand to the last,' but ultimately surrendered the ship to Russian troops without a fight in Striletskaya Bay. In Ukraine, a criminal case has been opened against him in absentia under the article of 'Treason.'

Within the Russian fleet, the traitor made a rapid career. Commanding the submarine 'Velikiy Novgorod,' he rose to the rank of Deputy Brigade Commander. According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is the submarines of this brigade that have borne the main responsibility since 2022 for the mass strikes of 'Kalibr' cruise missiles against Ukraine's energy and civilian infrastructure. Shagayev's death at his home is not just the elimination of a military man, but a targeted strike against the system inflicting damage on Ukrainian cities.

Arrest of the Perpetrator: FSB Version of the 'Crypto-Diver'

Russian special services reacted to the incident promptly. The FSB and the Sevastopol head appointed by Russia, Mikhail Razvozhayev, announced the detention of a suspect — a Russian citizen born in 1994, Margarita Reutt, a native of Yaroslavl living in Sochi. According to the investigation, the woman was conducting surveillance on the officer on the orders of Ukrainian special services. Law enforcement officials claim that communication with handlers was carried out through encrypted channels, and payment for the assignment was transferred in cryptocurrency. The FSB officially acknowledged the death of the serviceman but, as usual, refused to name the deceased; however, all OSINT sources (both Russian and Ukrainian) agree that it is indeed Shagayev.

Contradictory Data

There is a discrepancy between the official position of the Russian authorities and the actual state of affairs. The Russian FSB in its official reports confirms the death of a 'serviceman of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation' but refuses to confirm his identity and rank, citing a secrecy regime. At the same time, pro-Kremlin Telegram channels (Baza, Mash) and Ukrainian monitoring resources ('Crimean Wind') unanimously identify the deceased as Robert Shagayev. Furthermore, Ukrainian sources refer to this as a 'liquidation,' while the Russian side formally interprets it as a 'terrorist act' and 'explosion,' avoiding the term 'liquidation' so as not to acknowledge the effectiveness of the Ukrainian intelligence network.

'Black Thursday': Second Explosion and Death of Pyrotechnicians

The situation in Sevastopol on August 13, 2026, got out of control. A few hours after Shagayev's liquidation, Mikhail Razvozhayev reported a tragedy at another location. On the outskirts of the city, while inspecting the territory after a recent missile attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, five more people were blown up and killed: four pyrotechnicians of the Russian EMERCOM and their accompanying guard. A local interception plan has been declared in the city, and law enforcement agencies have been put on an enhanced mode. The death of Shagayev and the death of the pyrotechnicians demonstrate that Ukrainian special services and partisan units possess an extensive intelligence network in Crimea and are capable of conducting complex operations deep in the enemy's rear.