A former Ukrainian submarine commander branded a “traitor” after he defected to Russia’s armed forces was reportedly killed in an explosion in Sevastopol, according to a Ukrainian project that identifies alleged Russian war criminals and Ukrainians it considers collaborators.
The Book of Executioners identified the man as Robert Shaheiev, 49, citing an entry in a Russian tax database indicating that his identification number had been invalidated following his death. Newsweek has not independently confirmed that Shaheiev was the person killed in the August 13 blast.
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Russia’s Federal Security Service said an unnamed Defense Ministry serviceman died in the explosion. It also said a Russian woman had been detained and alleged that she acted on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence, but it did not publicly provide evidence for that claim.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry and Ukraine’s Security Service for comment.
Why Shaheiev Was Branded a ‘Traitor’
Shaheiev commanded the Zaporizhzhia, then Ukraine’s only submarine. Ukrainian authorities and media have accused him of surrendering the vessel to Russian forces during Moscow’s 2014 seizure of Crimea, after which he joined Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
According to preliminary information, he was killed by an explosive device in a backpack that detonated inside a trash bin next to a bench on Stoletovsky Prospekt in Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Shaheiev was appointed captain of the Zaporizhzhia on October 15, 2013, the year before Russia annexed Crimea.
According to The Book of Executioners, in spring 2014 he ignored directives to relocate the military unit to Odesa and refused to take the submarine to Ukraine’s mainland, declaring instead his intention to serve in the Russian army.
After this defection, Shaheiev became a deputy commander of the 4th Separate Submarine Brigade at the Novorossiysk Naval Base, added the project.
Pro-Ukrainian X account Special Kherson Cat said he was responsible for cruise missile launches against Ukrainian cities, energy facilities, and civilian infrastructure.
He was charged with desertion and treason under Articles 408.1 and 111.1 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.
Ukraine and Russia Exchange Deadly Strikes
Reports of Shaheiev’s death came amid a new exchange of attacks between Russia and Ukraine.
Six people were killed in a reported Ukrainian missile strike on the village of Koloskovo in Russia’s Belgorod region, acting regional Governor Alexander Shuvaev said on Monday. Four others, including a 14-year-old, were wounded, he said.
The attack followed a large Ukrainian drone assault on Russia overnight into Sunday. Russian regional authorities said five people were killed in the Rostov region and another person died in the Moscow region.
A fire also broke out at a warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries in Koledino, near Moscow. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirmed that its forces had targeted the facility, which it described as the company’s largest warehouse, covering approximately 250,000 square meters.
Kyiv has accused Wildberries of supporting Russia’s war effort by facilitating the distribution of military equipment. The company has not responded publicly to that allegation, and Newsweek has contacted it for comment.
Meanwhile, Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine on Sunday killed at least seven civilians and wounded 51 others, according to Ukrainian regional authorities. Further Russian strikes overnight into Monday killed at least two people and wounded 19, Ukrainian officials said.
Port infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region was among the sites hit. A civilian vessel sailing under the flag of Togo was damaged and four crew members were wounded, according to regional authorities. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had targeted military cargo facilities and stores of Western-supplied equipment, claims that Newsweek could not independently verify.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Mike Hirst.