SEVASTOPOL — The chief of staff for missile ships in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, identified as Captain of the 1st Rank Valery Trankovskyi, was reportedly killed in a car bombing on a Sevastopol highway, according to Ukrainian sources.
The bombing, allegedly carried out by Ukrainian operatives, marks one of the highest-profile attacks targeting Russian military officials in Crimea amid ongoing tensions in the region.
According to the Russian Telegram channel Baza, the explosion took place on Taras Shevchenko Street, where Trankovskyi’s SUV was parked near a local shop.
Witnesses initially attempted to assist after the detonation but were unable to save him. Reports indicate that an improvised explosive device (IED) had been planted in the vehicle and detonated remotely.
Russian media confirmed that the explosion was intense, severely injuring Trankovskyi and reportedly severing his legs. Despite efforts to control the bleeding, he succumbed to his injuries on the scene.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has not officially claimed responsibility; however, sources within the SBU indicated that the operation was part of an ongoing campaign led by the SBU and Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) targeting Russian officers and collaborators in occupied areas.
These operatives, the source noted, are being pursued for alleged war crimes, specifically those linked to Russian-led attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Trankovskyi was regarded as a high-value target due to his alleged role in ordering Kalibr missile strikes from the Black Sea, including a high-profile strike in July 2022 on Vinnytsia that left 29 civilians dead.
An SBU insider said that Trankovskyi was directly implicated in multiple attacks on Odesa and other Ukrainian cities, which intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
“This man was deeply involved in attacks on Ukrainian civilians,” the SBU source stated, adding, “he was a legitimate target under the laws and customs of war.”
The explosive-laden vehicle was reportedly under observation by Russian authorities prior to the attack.
According to SBU sources, Trankovskyi had been under surveillance for about a week, with Ukrainian operatives monitoring his routine and movements before executing the attack.
Russia has not commented on the alleged Ukrainian connection to the bombing but confirmed that the victim was a member of the Black Sea Fleet.
This killing follows a string of targeted operations reportedly conducted by Ukrainian partisan and intelligence units against prominent Russian officials and local collaborators in Crimea, Luhansk, and other Russian-occupied territories.
The incident has further escalated concerns over security in Crimea, a region Russia annexed in 2014 but which remains internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence sources noted the symbolism of the bombing taking place on Taras Shevchenko Street, named after a Ukrainian poet and national icon, framing it as a form of “inevitable retribution.” An SBU source added, “No war criminal should feel safe.”
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have reportedly ramped up efforts to destabilize the Russian presence in occupied territories, targeting logistics, infrastructure, and high-ranking personnel.
As attacks of this nature become more frequent, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the growing risks faced by its senior officers in Crimea and the broader region.
