Margarita Reutt Accused of Planting Bomb That Killed Russian Naval Officer Robert Shageev
Russian security forces have detained Margarita Reutt, a 32-year-old resident of Sochi, who is accused of planting the bomb that killed Robert Shageev, a former Ukrainian submarine commander who switched allegiance to Russia. The explosion occurred in a residential district of the Russian-occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol on August 13. Investigators claim Reutt confessed to the attack, stating she was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and promised a large payment in cryptocurrency and documents allowing her to leave Russia. The FSB reported that Reutt showed no remorse for the assassination. Friends and acquaintances describe Reutt as a determined and adventurous woman who grew increasingly outspoken about her anti-war sentiments. While she was previously a patriotic volunteer, her attitude toward Russia hardened after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. By the summer of 2025, she began spending more time in Crimea, allegedly preparing for the mission that led to her capture.