Former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament and prominent pro-European politician, Andriy Parubiy, has been assassinated in the western city of Lviv. He was 54.
Authorities said Parubiy, who also served as secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, was gunned down on Saturday in what investigators described as a carefully orchestrated attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the killing as a “horrific murder,” vowing that “all necessary forces and means” would be deployed to apprehend those responsible.
“Unfortunately, the crime was carefully planned,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
According to investigators, the assailant—disguised as a delivery rider on an electric bike—fired multiple shots at Parubiy, killing him instantly. Prosecutors have opened a murder investigation but have not disclosed possible motives as the manhunt for the shooter continues.
The assassination has immediately fueled suspicion of Russian involvement, given Parubiy’s outspoken defense of Ukrainian sovereignty and his opposition to Russian influence, particularly over language and independence issues. Russian state media confirmed that Parubiy had been on Moscow’s wanted list since 2023.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of orchestrating assassinations of political and military leaders. Ukrainian intelligence officials said Parubiy was “killed by enemy bullets,” though the precise circumstances remain under review.
Tributes have poured in from across Ukraine and abroad. Former President Petro Poroshenko described the killing as “a shot at the heart of Ukraine,” praising Parubiy’s unwavering commitment to sovereignty. Current parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk hailed him as “one of the founders of modern Ukraine.”
International reactions also followed swiftly. Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, expressed shock, recalling Parubiy’s role during the 2014 Crimea crisis when he helped evacuate Poland’s consulate in Sevastopol amid Russia’s annexation.
Parubiy’s assassination adds to a troubling pattern of high-profile killings amid the ongoing war. For many Ukrainians, his death marks not only a personal loss but also a symbolic blow to the nation’s struggle for independence. His legacy is likely to endure as a reminder of Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty and democracy.
