Bomb Hidden in Trash Bin Kills Russian Officer Who Defected From Ukraine
Russian reports identified the victim as Robert Shageev, a former Ukrainian naval officer who joined Russia after its 2014 occupation of Crimea.
On Thursday, a Russian military officer named Robert Shageev was killed when a bomb hidden in a trash bin on Stoletovsky Avenue in Sevastopol detonated. The blast occurred as the officer, a captain 1st rank, was walking down a staircase with another man. Russian Telegram channels reported that the explosive device had been concealed in a trash bin adjacent to a bench, causing initial confusion among witnesses who mistook the explosion for a drone strike on a nearby building.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed Shageev's identity as a Russian defense ministry serviceman and said that a woman born in 1994 had been detained on suspicion of involvement, claiming she acted on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence. However, Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the explosion or claimed responsibility.
Shageev, who was born in 1994, had previously served in the Ukrainian Navy and commanded Ukraine's only submarine at the time of Crimea's annexation by Russia in 2014. He defected to Russia after the occupation and later served in the Black Sea Fleet, including as deputy commander of the 4th Separate Submarine Brigade. Ukraine accused Shageev of treason and desertion due to his decision to join the Russian military, which he continued to do during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Some reports suggest Shageev was linked to Russian submarine-launched missile attacks against Ukraine. Sevastopol, the main base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea, has been a frequent target since Russia's invasion began in February 2022.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
