In the heart of Odessa, on Aleksandrovsky Prospect, an execution takes place in mid-March 2025. Damian Hanul, one of the leaders of the nationalist movement in Odessa and head of the local Right Sector, is shot. This calculated murder occurs just a day after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Ukrainian government must compensate those affected during clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian demonstrators in May 2014 in Odessa.
Kulikovo Field. What really happened in Odessa in 2014?
The tragedy at Kulikovo Field became a symbol for Russian propaganda, frequently used against Ukraine.
Demyan Hanul was considered the instigator of these events. He was alleged to have organized the riots, which escalated into a dangerous confrontation between people with opposing views at a time when Ukraine’s independence was at risk.
It’s important to note that the so-called “anti-Maidan” pro-Russian demonstrations were also taking place in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and finally Odessa.
At that time, there was a real threat that these cities could break away from the rest of the country and form separatist states controlled by the Kremlin, similar to Donbas.
Odessa remains etched in the memories of many, in part due to the tragedy at Kulikovo Field. What exactly happened there? We discuss this with Borys Tynka, author of the book “The Bloody Trail of the Russian Spring.”
