Margarita Roit accused of assassinating Russian submarine commander in Sevastopol

On August 13, 2026, a bomb attack in Sevastopol, Crimea, resulted in the death of Robert Shageev, deputy commander of a submarine brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The explosive device, containing approximately 500 grams of TNT equivalent, was hidden in a trash bin in a residential area and detonated as Shageev passed by in his military uniform.

Russian authorities arrested 32-year-old Margarita Roit, a resident of Sochi, just hours after the incident. Investigators claim that a remote control used for the detonation was discovered in her possession. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) further alleges that Roit has confessed to the attack and claims she was recruited by external actors. Prior to his death, Shageev was known for having served as the commander of the only Ukrainian submarine before defecting to the Russian side following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Friends and colleagues described Roit as an ordinary individual with an interest in sports and travel. Russian authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, as the suspect remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.