Activist Shot in Central Odesa, National Police Chief Heads to the Scene
A man was shot dead in central Odesa on Friday, March 14, according to the Odesa regional police. While the police press service did not immediately name the deceased, Ukrainian media reported that activist Demyan Hanul was the victim.
Law enforcement stated that an unknown assailant shot a pedestrian in the Primorsky district of Odesa. The incident was reported via the 102 hotline around 10:30am.
The attacker fled the scene, and investigators, along with forensic experts from the territorial police unit, are working to determine all circumstances surrounding the crime.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Telegram that an investigative team, led by National Police Chief Ivan Vyhovsky, has been dispatched to Odesa.
“I was informed of the information that has been collected so far. There are specific clues. Police operatives and investigators are working to identify the shooter and detain him,” he wrote.
Klymenko also dismissed reports that the shooter was dressed in a military uniform, urging the public to rely on official sources.
Demyan Hanul was a well-known activist from Odesa who supported Ukraine through public actions and by fundraising for the military. He was also noted for his calls to dismantle Soviet monuments, including those dedicated to Russian figures like Empress Catherine.
In July 2024, Hanul shared on Telegram that Russian sources had “leaked” personal information about his relatives online and even offered a reward of up to $10,000 for an attack on him.
He subsequently requested protection from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
According to the activist, he began receiving threats after his efforts to defend the honor of the military. Hanul added that he was arrested in absentia in Moscow under several criminal charges.
“During my conscious life, I have been defending the Ukrainian state, engaged in volunteer activities, defending the language, defending the honor and dignity of the Ukrainian military,” he wrote.
In May 2023, Hanul reported being beaten by allegedly “unknown military personnel.”
Additionally, social media has been abuzz with several scandals involving the activist. In 2023, law enforcement stopped his car and discovered a weapon inside, and there were also reports of multiple car accidents involving him.
Source: Kyiv Post