Activist Demian Hanul killed in Odesa
Activist Demian Hanul was shot and killed in central Odesa, with Ukrainian MP Oleksii Honcharenko first reporting the incident, later confirmed by the National Police on March 14.
Demian Hanul, 31, was a Ukrainian public figure, volunteer, blogger, and animal and environmental activist.
He was the founder and head of the NGO Street Front, and a participant in the Revolution of Dignity and the May 2nd standoff in Odesa against pro-Russian forces. He also led the Right Sector cell in Odesa from 2014 to 2016.
Hanul’s father, an ATO veteran and participant in the Revolution of Dignity, served in the defense of Kyiv and later in the 28th separate mechanized brigade.
Demian had been supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was a trained history teacher.
As of now, authorities are investigating his murder, which took place on March 13 in the center of Odesa.
The National Police are working to identify the shooter, who fled the scene after the attack.
Hanul was fatally shot in the head after being left seriously wounded.
Investigators have opened a case under the charge of premeditated murder, and the shooter is believed to have targeted Hanul on order.
Officials have confirmed that the investigation is under personal control by Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, who also dispatched an investigative team to Odesa.
Police are working to track down the suspect. In a recent statement, Klymenko clarified that the shooter was not wearing military clothing, contrary to earlier reports.
Hanul had expressed concerns about his safety, especially after previous threats and an attempted attack in May 2023.
Radio NV’s Editor-in-Chief, Oleksiy Tarasov, emphasized the importance of investigating the murder and bringing the responsible parties to justice.
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