In a chilling incident, Stanislav Rzhitsky, a 42-year-old former commander of a Russian Black Sea submarine, was fatally shot seven times during his morning run in Krasnodar, a southern Russian city. The assassination occurred in a deserted city park, approximately 145 miles from the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea.

Rzhitsky's personal information, including his home address and photograph, had been previously published on Myrotvorets, a Ukrainian website that lists individuals perceived as enemies of Ukraine. Following the assassination, his picture on the site was marked with the word "Liquidated" in red letters.

A Russian Kilo-class submarine transits the Bosphorus Strait.

It is suspected that Rzhitsky's use of a fitness app, which tracked his running routes and times, might have contributed to his vulnerability. Baza, a Russian Telegram channel with alleged ties to security services, suggested the killer might have used the app to track the former commander. Rzhitsky had reportedly resigned from the military in late 2021 but wasn't officially discharged until August 2022.

Ukraine's defense intelligence agency, GUR, reported that a Makarov pistol was used in the attack and attributed Rzhitsky's death to the gunshot wounds. The absence of witnesses due to heavy rain hindered the immediate identification of the attacker.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a naval exercise in the Black Sea.

While Ukraine hasn't claimed responsibility, it also hasn't disclosed the source of its information. Russian authorities have arrested a man in his 60s possessing a pistol and silencer in connection with the assassination.

Scene of a Russian missile attack in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

Pro-Ukrainian groups claiming responsibility for numerous sabotage attacks within Russia have linked Rzhitsky to the July 2022 submarine missile strike on Vinnytsia, which resulted in the deaths of at least 23 civilians, including a young child. Reuters has identified at least two other pro-war Russian figures listed on the Myrotvorets database who have been killed in Russia since the war began.