Demyan Ganul, a contentious Ukrainian neo-Nazi activist, was shot dead on Thursday in central Odessa. The attack took place on Aleksandrovsky Prospekt, where Ganul, a prominent figure in Ukraine’s far-right movement, was shot twice by an assailant dressed in military uniform before fleeing the scene.
However, Interior Minister Igor Klimenko dismissed reports that the suspect was wearing military attire. The National Police of Ukraine also confirmed on its Telegram channel that the information regarding the suspect’s surrender has not been confirmed.
Following the murder, Klimenko took personal control of the investigation and dispatched a team from the National Police’s central office to Odessa. The authorities launched an operation, code-named “Siren,” to nab the suspect.
Ganul, a leader of the right-wing group,’Street Front’, was widely known for involvement in the 2014 clashes in Odessa, which culminated in the deadly arson of the House of Trade Unions, resulting in the deaths of 48 people.
His actions during that time earned him notoriety, and he was long associated with neo-Nazi ideologies, making him a polarizing figure in Ukrainian politics.
In recent years, Ganul’s activities included enforcing Ukraine’s mobilization efforts and promoting decommunization policies.
In June 2024, Ganul got famous for physically assaulting an Odessa fitness trainer who had criticized the Armed Forces of Ukraine, forcibly taking the individual to a military enlistment office.
In April 2024, the Basmanny Court of Moscow issued an in-absentia arrest warrant for Ganul and charged him with crimes related to the destruction or damage of military monuments, graves, memorials, and attacks on internationally protected institutions.
Ganul had previously reported receiving death threats and claimed a $10,000 bounty had been placed on his head. While the motives behind his murder are still under investigation, the Ukrainian authorities are working diligently to identify the attacker and bring justice to those responsible for the assassination of this divisive figure.
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