Former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy has been shot dead in Lviv, Ukrainian authorities confirmed on Saturday. Police said they received reports of a shooting in the Frankivsk district of Lviv, western Ukraine, around midday local time. Early but unconfirmed accounts suggest Parubiy was targeted by a gunman riding an electric bike and disguised as a courier. Witnesses reported that he was shot multiple times before the assailant fled the scene.
Parubiy, 54, was a prominent political figure in Ukraine. He rose to national prominence during the Maidan movement of 2013–2014, which pushed for closer ties with the European Union and ultimately toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Following the revolution, Parubiy held several high-ranking roles, including Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and later Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the killing, describing it as a “terrible murder.” In a statement shared on Telegram, Zelensky wrote:
“The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko have just reported on the first known circumstances of the terrible murder in Lviv. Andriy Parubiy was killed. My condolences to his family and friends. All necessary forces and means are being deployed to investigate and find the killer.”
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The Ukrainian National Police, Lviv Regional Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have launched a joint investigation into the assassination. Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive or identified suspects.
Parubiy’s death marks a significant moment in Ukraine’s political landscape. He was widely regarded as a staunch supporter of Ukrainian sovereignty, often criticizing Russian aggression and advocating for stronger Western alignment. His assassination will likely send shockwaves through Kyiv and may raise further questions about security within Ukraine’s major cities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
As of Saturday evening, investigators were reviewing surveillance footage and gathering witness testimonies. Officials have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement as the search for the killer continues.