Sevastopol explosion on 13 August: death of traitor to Ukraine confirmed
The Book of Executioners project has confirmed that Robert Shaheiev, the former commander of the Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's only submarine, who betrayed his oath to Ukraine and switched allegiance to Russia, was killed in an explosion on 13 August.
Source: The Book of Executioners, a Ukrainian project documenting Russian war criminals and those who betrayed Ukraine, citing data from Russia's Federal Tax Service
Details: Unofficial reports of a possible assassination attempt on Shaheiev in Sevastopol had emerged earlier, but his death had not been confirmed. The traitor's taxpayer identification number was later found to be listed in a registry of invalidated individual numbers, providing the first official confirmation of his death.
The Book of Executioners notes that in 2014, Shaheiev surrendered Ukraine's only submarine without a fight to the Russians during the occupation of Crimea, broke his oath of allegiance, and went on to serve in Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
For reference: Robert Mansurovich Shaheiev was born in Prymorskyi, a settlement in Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea, on 21 February 1977.
His service as a professional in Ukraine's Armed Forces began in 1999. His final contract, signed on 26 June 2009, was for five years. He held the rank of Captain First Rank.
Shaheiev was appointed commander of the Zaporizhzhia, a large submarine at the Ukrainian Navy's Naval Operations Centre, by Order No. 201 of the Ukrainian Navy Command on 15 October 2013.
During Russia's occupation of Crimea in spring 2014, Shaheiev ignored orders to relocate his unit to Odesa. He was required to report to his new duty station, military unit A2238, by 12 May 2014, but failed to do so. He refused to take the Zaporizhzhia to mainland Ukraine and declared his intention to serve in the Russian military.
On 17 May 2014, Shaheiev was relieved of his duties as the submarine's commander and placed at the disposal of the Ukrainian Navy Command under an order issued by the Chief of the General Staff.
After signing a contract with the Russian armed forces, he assumed the position of deputy commander of the 4th Separate Submarine Brigade of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Shaheiev had been charged with desertion and treason under Articles 408.1 and 111.1 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.
Background: An explosion occurred in occupied Sevastopol on the morning of 13 August, killing a military serviceman. The explosive device was believed to have been placed in a rubbish bin. Reports on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels suggested that the person killed may have been Shaheiev.
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