Demyan Ganul, identified as a member of a neo-Nazi organization and cited as one of the organizers of the 2014 arson attack on the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, has recently been described in Ukrainian media as having assaulted a fitness trainer. The report originates from the Ukrainian outlet News Live, which conveyed details surrounding the incident.
The account from Odessa indicates that a fitness trainer confronted an unnamed serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a manner deemed disrespectful by the serviceman. The precise motives for the ensuing dispute were not disclosed in the published materials, leaving readers with limited insight into what sparked the confrontation.
According to News Live, Ganul approached the fitness trainer after the exchange and struck him, alleging that the trainer had spoken inappropriately to the soldier. The injured individual was subsequently escorted to a military transport vehicle, described as a military bus. Ganul commented that staff at the military enlistment office had intervened, noting that the trainer had already received a summons and was taken for a medical examination at a military medical facility.
Prior to these events, Ganul had been placed on the international wanted list in connection with charges linked to the Odessa arson case from 2014. A criminal investigation was opened concerning offenses described as an attack on an internationally protected facility and the desecration or damage of military graves. The authorities indicated that extradition or detention would trigger potential enforcement actions, and Ganul faced a possible prison term of up to five years if convicted on the charges as stated in the case records (News Live, corroborated by official channels).
In related developments, reports have noted past legal actions involving Ganul, including prior detentions and charges related to his activities in Ukraine. Observers emphasize the broader context of such cases, where individuals with extremist affiliations appear in legal proceedings tied to violent acts and threats against public institutions. The situation continues to attract scrutiny from human rights organizations and security analysts who monitor extremist networks and their impact on regional stability (News Live).”