Man Who Was Likely Former Commander of Ukrainian Submarine Zaporizhzhia Killed in Explosion in Sevastopol

In the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol, a man was killed in an explosion. He is believed to be Robert Shagieiev, a 1st-rank captain in the Russian Navy and the former commander of the Ukrainian submarine Zaporizhzhia, who betrayed his country.

A number of Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels, including Crimean Wind, reported on the explosion and the death.

The explosion occurred on Stoletovsky Avenue. According to preliminary reports, the explosive device was planted in a trash can near a bench. The man was walking down the stairs with a friend when the explosion occurred.

He reportedly died at the scene from his injuries.

Robert Shagieiev is a former Ukrainian Navy officer who defected to Russia following the occupation of Crimea in 2014. He commanded the submarine Zaporizhzhia and later served in the Russian Federation’s Black Sea Fleet.

As of 2022, Shagieiev held the position of deputy commander of the 4th Separate Submarine Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which regularly fires Kalibr cruise missiles at Ukraine

The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine (SBI) notified him that he was suspected of high treason. According to the SBI, following the occupation of Crimea, he surrendered the submarine Zaporizhzhia without a fight and transferred to the Russian Navy.