Court hands down life sentence for the murder of Odessa activist Demyan Ganul
This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine.
Investigators have established that the man had been commissioned to murder an activist. It is noted that, in accordance with a pre-arranged plan, he took his annual leave, rented two flats in Odesa, and illegally acquired firearms, ammunition and hand grenades, which he stored in his temporary accommodation.
Having completed the pre-trial investigation and gathered sufficient evidence, the law enforcement authorities brought charges under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- clauses 6 and 11 of Part 2 of Article 115 — intentional murder committed on commission and for financial gain;
- Part 1 of Article 263 — the unlawful carrying, possession and acquisition of firearms (other than smooth-bore hunting weapons) and ammunition without the authorisation required by law;
- Article 407(5) — failure to report for duty on time without valid reasons whilst martial law was in force.
The court found the defendant guilty on all counts and imposed the most severe sentence — life imprisonment with confiscation of property and deprivation of military rank.
The judgment of the court of first instance has not yet become final. In accordance with current legislation, the parties have the right to lodge an appeal within 30 days of the date of its pronouncement. Until this period has expired, or until a decision has been made by the court of appeal in the event of an appeal, the sentence is not enforceable.
The murder of Demyan Hanul: what is known
On 14 March 2025, at approximately 10.30 am, the police received a report that a man had shot and killed a passer-by in the Primorsky district of Odesa. The victim was identified as Odesa activist Demyan Hanul. The shooter fled the scene, but the police released CCTV footage of him.
The Minister of the Interior, Ihor Klymenko, announced that he was taking personal charge of the investigation into Hanul’s murder. The suspect was subsequently arrested — he turned out to be 46-year-old Sergei Shalaev, a military deserter.
He was charged under two sections of the Criminal Code: premeditated murder committed on commission, and unlawful handling of firearms. In court, he pleaded guilty to the murder of Hanul. He was remanded in custody without the right to bail.
In total, the investigation considered three possible motives for the activist’s murder: a contract killing linked to Ganul’s professional and civic activities, personal animosity towards him, and a so-called ‘Russian connection’ due to the activist’s pro-Ukrainian stance.
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