Andriy Parubiy, former chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday (August 30), and police are currently searching for the perpetrator.
Parubiy, 54, served as a Ukrainian parliament member and was the chairman from April 2016 to August 2019. He was one of the leaders of the pro-European protest movements in 2013-2014, advocating for closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union. Parubiy also held the position of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Committee of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian National Police stated that they received reports of the shooting around noon on Saturday. Law enforcement authorities have not provided any information regarding the identity or motives of the perpetrator.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated a special operation, codenamed “Siren,” to investigate the murder. It is believed that the shooter fired multiple shots at Parubiy, leading to the immediate death of the political figure. The shooter fled the scene, and authorities have launched a manhunt.
President Zelensky posted on the social media platform X, saying, “Andriy Parubiy was killed. My condolences to his family and loved ones.” He also mentioned that all necessary resources and methods are being utilized to investigate and apprehend the perpetrator.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi emphasized the importance of identifying the perpetrator and solving the attack. “This concerns the security of a country at war. As we can see, there is no completely safe place here,” he wrote on Telegram.
Following the incident, Ukrainian parliament and government officials expressed their condolences for Parubiy.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on Telegram that Parubiy was “a patriot and politician who made a huge contribution to defending Ukraine’s freedom, independence, and sovereignty. He deserves to be remembered in history.”
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called for an immediate investigation into the murder case, labeling it a “significant loss” for Ukraine. “You have always been a patriot of Ukraine, making a significant contribution to the establishment of our country,” she wrote on the X platform.
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed on Telegram that Parubiy was a member of the parliamentary National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee, and his assassination “struck the heart of Ukraine.”
(This article is based on a report by Reuters)