A military serviceman, Serhiy Shalaev, has been sentenced for the murder of Demyan Hanul, a prominent leader of the nationalist organization “Street Front” in Odesa. The incident occurred on March 14, 2025, when Shalaev shot Hanul in a public area of the city. During the trial, Shalaev admitted his guilt but claimed he had been manipulated into committing the act under the guise of an SBU operative.
On the day of the murder, Hanul was shot twice in the torso by an assailant who approached him on a busy street. Surveillance footage captured the moment when the assailant delivered a fatal shot to Hanul’s head as he lay on the ground. Hanul, known for his active participation in nationalist movements, had previously been involved in significant political events, including the violent clashes in Odesa on May 2, 2014, which resulted in numerous fatalities.
Following the murder, police apprehended Shalaev just hours later. He was a 46-year-old member of the 28th Brigade and had left his unit without permission a month prior. Before the war, he lived in Kyiv, where he worked as a bodyguard after completing a combat training program. Shalaev had volunteered for the ATO in 2015 and was later mobilized again, suffering injuries and mental health issues during his service.
The trial began in October 2025, with the prosecution charging Shalaev with intentional murder, illegal possession of weapons, and desertion. During the proceedings, Shalaev expressed remorse and apologized to Hanul’s family, asserting that he was misled by an individual posing as an SBU agent.
Shalaev’s mother testified that a man claiming to be an SBU employee contacted her, alleging that her son was under suspicion for financing terrorism due to purchasing medication from occupied territories. This individual, who used the name “Klymenko,” ultimately connected with Shalaev, offering him a supposed position within the SBU.
Shalaev recounted that he was instructed to surveil Hanul and later received orders to kill him, being told that Hanul was a traitor and a danger to the country. On the day of the murder, Shalaev was provided with a firearm and ammunition by an associate of Klymenko.
Despite Shalaev’s claims of being manipulated, the prosecution argued that he had a duty as a serviceman to question the orders he received. The prosecutor requested a life sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and the need for accountability.
On June 19, 2026, the court found Shalaev guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment, stripping him of his military rank and confiscating his property. The verdict was met with approval from Hanul’s family, who had called for the maximum penalty, asserting that leniency could lead to further violence.
Shalaev’s defense attorney indicated plans to appeal the decision, arguing that her client had cooperated fully with the investigation and was not fully aware of the implications of his actions. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding manipulation and coercion among military personnel in the context of the ongoing conflict.
Serhiy Shalaev has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of nationalist leader Demyan Hanul in Odesa. The case raises questions about manipulation within military ranks amid ongoing conflict.