Former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on August 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed.
The shooting occurred around noon on Yefremova Street, near Parubiy’s residence, according to a correspondent from RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service at the scene. Law enforcement confirmed that the former lawmaker died instantly from his injuries. The shooter remains at large.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General's Office announced that a murder investigation has been launched, and the attacker is being sought for the "intentional homicide" of the well-known 54-year-old politician.
Shooter Fled On An Electric Bike
Authorities found eight shell casings at the crime scene. Sources told reporters the shooter was dressed like a courier for a delivery service and fled the scene on an electric bicycle.
Zelenskyy expressed condolences to Parubiy’s family and pledged full resources for the investigation.
In a video statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy claimed the "crime was, unfortunately, meticulously planned" and vowed that "everything is being done" to find the perpetrator.
He said the Ukrainian Security Service, the country's main internal security agency, was involved in the investigation and was "instructed to ensure that accurate, verified information be shared promptly with the public."
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, wrote on Xthat she was “deeply shocked by the terrible murder,” while Geoffrey Pyatt -- a former US ambassador to Ukraine -- said Parubiy was a "truly historic figure who played a pivotal role in building a democratic and European Ukraine."
Parubiy was a prominent political figure and key participant in Ukraine’s 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan revolution. He served as chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, from 2016 to 2019.
Additionally, he was secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council from February to August 2014, a critical period when fighting began in eastern Ukraine and Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula.
