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The Trial Australia - Inside Australia's biggest criminal cases: Listen to the new Daily Mail podcast now By WAYNE FLOWER, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 04:22 GMT, 29 October 2025 | Updated: 04:23 GMT, 29 October 2025 The mother of former criminal turned journalist Ryan Naumenko has been targeted by machete wielding thugs in a suspected revenge attack over his fearless reporting. The attack on the independent journalist came just days after he spoke exclusively to The Trial Australia podcast where he revealed how his insider coverage of Melbourne's tobacco wars had already nearly cost him his life. The tobacco wars are a violent gang conflict that has erupted over control of Australia's lucrative illegal tobacco trade. It has been raging for more than two years. Naumenko took to his Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon to describe the horror attack at his mother's family home in Victoria's north-west. 'My mother's home was invaded by three youth offenders last night. It was over an article revealing details about someone that weren't yet known. Two of the children were carrying weapons - a machete and a small bat,' he wrote. 'They jumped the fence and smashed their way in through the backyard.' A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed the attack, declaring police believe it was targeted. 'It is understood three offenders wearing hoodies and masks and carrying machetes and a baseball bat smashed a window and gained access to a residence just before 12.30am,' the spokesperson stated. A masked and weapon carrying goon exits the home of Ryan Naumenko's elderly mother after assaulting her 'Officers have been told one resident confronted the males when she was assaulted. Nothing was stolen during the incident. 'A 70-year-old woman sustained minor injuries. The three offenders fled the scene. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.' That male was Naumenko himself, who had been visiting his sick mother at the time. 'They punched my mother multiple times to her face but left no marks,' he said. 'The hits were very soft. "They were kids they didn't know how to punch", according to my mother. They left within seconds and ran the second they heard my voice. 'They were telling my elderly mother, who is recovering from major cancer surgery, to "say Ryan's a Dog". This must be called out for what it is - gangsters who are nothing more than cowardly putrid skunks with no morals.' Naumenko ended his post with an ominous message. 'I'll show you what men do when we love our families more than our own lives,' he stated. Former criminal turned journalist Ryan Naumenko (pictured) revealed how his insider coverage of Melbourne's tobacco wars nearly cost him his life Naumenko has threatened to launch his own war against those behind the attack on his mother Naumenko pledged to name the two men he believes ordered the attack on his Instagram page. 'Oh God ... if VicPol don't swoop today and pick them up before I find them (which I doubt they will), you'll see me being dragged into custody tomorrow.' Naumenko has made national headlines over the past few days after telling Daily Mail he planned to sack his podcast host former sergeant-at-arms for the Mongols outlaw bikie gang turned reporter Mahmood Fazal. Naumenko and Fazal had only recently launched the World on the Street podcast, but quickly fell out. The feud escalated when Naumenko hit YouTube with a video outlining a series of allegations against his former cohost. It is not suggested that Fazal had anything to do with the home invasion. Naumenko has made a name for himself as a fearless independent Melbourne-crime reporter able to get rare insights into the criminal underworld. Naumenko's sources within Melbourne's underbelly give him access to scoops often beyond the grasp of mainstream journalists. MAsked goons smashed their way into the home of Naumenko's mum The Trial Australia - Inside Australia's biggest criminal cases: Listen to the new Daily Mail podcast now His coverage of Melbourne's Tobacco Wars has been extensive. Talking to The Trial Australia, Naumenko said he began documenting the conflict after a friend from his time in prison was murdered, taking it upon himself to find out who was responsible. 'The whole thing started when my friend, "Afghan Ali", was murdered,' he said. 'He was the bloke who looked after me, took me under his wing and showed me the ropes in prison. 'Afghan was a really solid guy. When I heard he had died, I thought this [the tobacco wars] had really gotten out of control.' Illicit tobacco has become big business in the Australian underworld, particularly in Melbourne, after the government slapped an astonishing 65% tax on tobacco products, with black market cigarettes selling for a fraction of the legal price. A packet of cigarettes can now cost as much as $57 from a legal vendor, leading to a dramatic rise in pop-up black markets selling smuggled tobacco. With the cigarette trade now more valuable than the drug trade in some areas, criminal syndicates violently vie for control of turf. Mahmood Fazal was a feared Mongols bikie before he became a reporter Mahmood Fazal is now an ABC reporter on its flagship news program Using his underworld connections, Naumenko has posted exclusive footage and insider updates on the conflict to TikTok and Instagram under the handle, 'Outlaw Media'. The journalist revealed he recently survived an assassination attempt after being fed false information by now deceased gang leader Sam Abdul Rahim, known as 'The Punisher', which made him a target for multiple crime figures. 'I was in my backyard, sunbathing', Naumenko recounted. 'My phones going off. The Gang Crime Squad were trying to call me at 3 o'clock on a Saturday. I thought, let me enjoy my day - my kids were coming over. 'I didn't realise at the time, but there were cops outside my house - the dogs were going crazy. 'The police told me: 'You almost died, you realise that?' 'There had been blokes sitting in a Mercedes outside – the cops were calling to get me out of the house. 'I am paranoid, I don't trust police – so at first I didn't believe them. It didn't hit me until later that night - like f***, I almost died. A packet of cigarettes can now cost as much as £32 ($57 AUD) from a legal vendor, leading to a dramatic rise in pop-up black markets selling smuggled tobacco Since 2023, the turf war has resulted in over 125 firebombings, multiple murders, and innocent civilians killed in mistaken identity attacks 'After that, I didn't see my kids for a month or so. It was not pleasant, but that's what you have to do to protect them.' Naumenko described how after the failed hit, he went on the run for ten months, constantly moving locations to stay safe. It wasn't until Sam Abdulrahim was murdered in January 2025 that the immediate danger passed and he could return to reporting openly. 'I was just all over the place. I couldn't settle anywhere', he said. 'I couldn't see my family, my kids. I couldn't even go to the supermarket. The risk was that great. It was wild. 'I can't sulk about it though – I chose it. I enjoy the adrenaline; the rush this gives me.' When asked Naumenko whether he sees the violence in Melbourne calming down anytime soon. The host noted that the city has become a 'very scary place' since the conflict started. Naumenko vented on his Instagram page after the violent attack on his mum 'I actually asked the same thing to a very serious crime figure recently', the journalist responded. 'Their simple response was – there will never be peace while there's money around. 'I think, if anything, we're going to see a lot more bodies start dropping, a lot more fires start up, before we see anything calm down. 'That's the honest truth, in my opinion.' Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppers.vic.com.au. InstagramCrimeTikTokMelbourne Share or comment on this article: What the hell is going on in Melbourne?Journalist's mother attacked by thugs - in a suspected revenge attack over his reporting Add comment
