A Russian military officer identified as Robert Shageyev, a former Ukrainian naval officer who defected to Russia during Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014, was killed in a bomb attack in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-annexed Crimea. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of assassinating him on behalf of Ukrainian special services, according to Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev.

Separately, Razvozhayev reported that five people died overnight in Sevastopol during an operation to dispose of an explosive device. The casualties included four emergency service bomb disposal specialists and a security guard who were clearing the area following a Ukrainian drone attack.

Russia's Defence Ministry stated that its air defence units intercepted or shot down 362 Ukrainian drones overnight across several Russian and Russian-controlled regions, including Crimea.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military claimed it attacked the Orsk refinery near the Kazakhstan border, about 1,470 km southeast of Moscow, setting it on fire. Shrapnel from the attack damaged key infrastructure that cannot currently be repaired due to sanctions, potentially causing the plant to remain shut down for up to six months.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported that at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July 2026, marking a 30% increase compared with the previous month and a 70% increase compared with July 2025. Additionally, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that 261 bodies of deceased persons, believed by the Russian side to be Ukrainian servicemen, have been returned to Ukraine.

But Myrotvorets, an unofficial Ukrainian website listing individuals described as war criminals or traitors, stated that Shageyev had been "liquidated." Several unofficial Russian Telegram channels also named Shageyev as the victim of the bomb attack.

This incident occurs amid ongoing hostilities and military actions between Russia and Ukraine, including drone attacks and targeted strikes on infrastructure.

Sources