A notorious pro-Russia commentator has been charged with assault after being video showed him pushing a pro- Ukraine demonstrator down a set of steps.
The elderly protester was hospitalised after sustaining a head injury during the incident in which Simeon Boikov shoved him.
Mr Boikov posts online under the name Aussie Cossack and on Tuesday he posted a video on his YouTube channel of him attending the rally at Sydney's Town Hall.
Footage live-streamed from the rally on Boikov's channel shows him arguing with protesters after the incident.
"Self defence. It's on camera," he said.
"That was self-defence caught on camera. He approached me, he grabbed me, and I pushed him away."
The Ukraine supporters are shown on the footage confronting the Putin admirer and standing in his way as he tries to flee as footage then cuts to the man lying on the concrete.
New South Wales Police said: "Upon arrival, police were told a 76-year-old man was allegedly assaulted during a planned protest. A 32-year-old man was arrested on scene and is now assisting police with inquiries."
Boikov was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 25 January 2023.
At the start of the war in Ukraine, Mr Boikov urged all Australians to boycott McDonald's, Coca-Cola, KFC and Facebook after the conglomerates closed operations in Russia.
He compiled an image of all brands which left Russia and wrote: "Good riddance. Excellent news for the Russian economy. Bye-bye globalists.
"If they keep going with these sanctions, Russians will soon be among the healthiest, well-adjusted and best-informed people on the planet. Join us."
He previously claimed that warmonger Putin is merely liberating and not invading Ukraine.
The Cossacks are predominantly East Slavic Orthodox Christian people originating in parts of Ukraine and southern Russia.
Mr Boikov claims he is "a freedom fighter" and the self-appointed head of his Aussie Cossack movement.
When former right-wing Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent Ukraine $70 million (£38 million) to fund missiles and armaments, Aussie Cossack called the Prime Minister a "complete fool" and said the move would only provoke Putin more.
He said to the Mail: Mr Boikov said: "We shouldn't be poking the bear. Putin will have won within a few days... this is the end of the war (but) if other countries get involved it's World War 3.
"I personally think Australia is the best country in the world... but Putin is not bluffing, I can't stress that enough."
