SBU detains Briton suspected of supplying weapons to Hanul's killer

The SBU CI, in cooperation with the UK intelligence services, exposed Ross David Cutmore, a British citizen suspected of collaborating with the Russian secret service.

According to Ukrayinska Pravda, citing its own sources in the SBU, the detainee was involved in intelligence and sabotage activities in Ukraine in 2024-2025, and is currently in custody.

According to the source, Ross David Cutmore arrived in Ukraine in 2024 as a military instructor to assist in the education and training of the Armed Forces personnel.

He added that Cutmore had military experience gained during his military service in the British Army and his stay in the Middle East. The publication also reports that the investigation has reason to believe that the instructor imported and distributed weapons in Ukraine that were used to kill Demian Hanul, Iryna Farion and Andriy Parubiy.

Earlier, the court extended the pre-trial restraint for Serhiy Shalayev, a suspect in the murder of Odesa activist Demian Hanul, for 60 days without bail. The relatives of the deceased insist on life imprisonment and doubt his remorse.

During the preliminary hearing on November 3, 46-year-old Shalaev unexpectedly addressed the relatives of the deceased. He stated that he regretted his actions and allegedly did not know who the activist was. According to the accused, he was "misinformed about Hanul's identity" and received the weapon from his customers.

The tragic events took place on March 14 in the Prymorsky district of Odesa. On that day, Demian Hanul was fatally shot, after which the attacker fled. Within hours, law enforcement officers detained the suspect, Serhiy Shalaev, a former senior lieutenant. He was found in the apartment where he was hiding. They also found a weapon that the investigation believes to be the instrument of the crime.

Кирило Бойко