19 June 2026
(Serhiy Shalaev. PHOTO: od.npu.gov.ua)
Nearly a year and a half after the high-profile shooting in downtown Odesa, a court has concluded the case involving the murder of a civic activist. The accused soldier received the harshest punishment allowed by law.
This was reported by the press office of the National Police in the Odesa region.
The Primorsky District Court of Odesa found Serhiy Shalaev,a 46-year-old soldier from the Kyiv region , guilty of thecontract killing of a well-known civic activist and sentenced him to life imprisonment ,with confiscation of property and stripping of his military rank.
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The case involves a murder committed on March 14, 2025, in downtown Odesa. According to the investigation, the assailant fired several shots at the victim, then fired a final shot to the head and fled the scene of the crime.
A special investigative team was formed to investigate this high-profile crime, comprising officers from the National Police of Ukraine, the Odesa Regional Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The suspect was apprehended within a few hours of the murder.
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Investigators determined that the man acted on someone’s orders. According to law enforcement, he planned the crime in advance: he took his annual leave, rented two apartments in Odesa, and illegally acquired firearms, ammunition, and hand grenades, which he stored in his temporary residences.
Demyan Hanul, who was 31 years old, was a well-known public figure, blogger, and leader of the “Street Front” organization. From 2014 to 2016, he led the “Right Sector” security unit in Odesa. Hanul actively participated in the Revolution of Dignity and the clashes on May 2, 2014, opposing pro-Russian forces.
According to Shalaev, the contact information for the man, who introduced himself as an “SBU officer,” was allegedly provided to him by his own mother. The defendant claims he hoped that through this connection, he would be transferred from the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the security service.
It was also established that after his leave ended, the defendant did not return to his place of duty by the specified deadline.
The court found the man guilty under articles covering intentional murder for hire motivated by financial gain, illegal possession of weapons, and failure to report for duty under martial law. The verdict is not yet final. The parties have the right to appeal the verdict within 30 days of its announcement.
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On May 30, the Primorsky District Court of Odesa held a hearing in the case of SeniorLieutenant Serhiy Shalaev, who is accused of illegal possession of weapons, desertion, and the contract killing ofactivist Demyan Hanul on behalf of Russians. The prosecutor emphasized that the defendant had fully admitted his guilt.
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