Russian Military Officer Killed in Annexed Crimea Bomb Explosion

Aug. 13, 2026 crimea-news.com A senior Russian military officer was killed in a targeted bombing in annexed Crimea, Kremlin-installed officials and the Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday. The explosion occurred around 10 a.m. local time on a street in western Sevastopol, the home port of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, according to the news outlet Ostorozhno Novosti. Citing the FSB, the outlet reported that an explosive device was placed in a trash can and detonated when the officer walked by. The FSB confirmed the death of a Russian Defense Ministry serviceman but did not disclose his identity, according to state news agencies. The security agency announced the arrest of a 32-year-old Russian woman who they said was acting on the instructions of Ukrainian special services. “Investigators established that she acted on instructions from Ukrainian special services and showed no remorse,” said Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-installed governor of Sevastopol. Unverified reporting by Ostorozhno Novosti claimed to identify her as Margarita Reutt, who lives in the southern Russian resort city of Sochi, volunteered to clean up oil from beaches in nearby Anapa and ran her own business. The outlet previously reported that a court in August 2025 fined Reutt for “discrediting” the Russian military over public remarks on board a train in response to news of a Ukrainian drone strike. Telegram channels with links to Russia’s security services claimed to identify the victim as Captain First Rank Robert Shageyev, who previously commanded the Ukrainian Navy’s only submarine before defecting to Russia during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Shageyev reportedly served as deputy commander of a Russian Black Sea Fleet submarine brigade. The Moscow Times was unable to independently verify the details of those reports. Razvozhayev said earlier that five people were killed overnight during an operation to dispose of an explosive device. Read more about: Crimea , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more At Least 11 Killed in Ukrainian Attacks in Southern Russia and Annexed Crimea In the central Vladimir region, drone strikes set a Wildberries warehouse ablaze, the latest attack in Ukraine’s campaign against the company. 2 Min read Russia Shot Down Its Own Fighter Jet Over Crimea During Drone Attack, Ukraine Says “They were repelling Ukrainian attacks so actively that they ended up shooting down their own plane,” Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said. 1 Min read As Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Flounders, Moscow Presses Onward With Massive Amphibious Assault Ship Analysts say the Ivan Rogov may prove more symbolic than strategic, as the fleet it is meant to bolster has suffered heavy losses in Ukraine. 6 Min read Ukraine Says Hit Air Defense System in Russia There was no mention of the attack in official reports from Russia, which said its air defenses had destroyed over 30 Ukrainian drones. 2 Min read