Andriy Parubiy, Ukrainian Politician, Assassinated in Lviv

Sat Oct 25 2025 02:39:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The former speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Andriy Parubiy, has been shot dead in Lviv. A massive manhunt is underway for the assailant.

Andriy Parubiy, a highly influential figure in Ukraine's political landscape and a key figure in the Euromaidan protests, was fatally shot in Lviv. Video evidence suggests that the attack was premeditated, involving a gunman disguised as a delivery courier. President Zelensky condemned the attack while a nationwide effort is underway to locate the shooter. Parubiy's death marks a significant loss for Ukraine's ongoing struggle for independence amidst external aggression.

The former speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Andriy Parubiy has been shot dead in the western city of Lviv, officials have said.

Unverified footage, purportedly of the shooting, appears to show a gunman dressed as a courier approaching Parubiy on the street and holding up a weapon as he walks behind him, before fleeing. A huge manhunt is now under way for the suspect.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Saturday's attack as a terrible murder and offered condolences to Parubiy's family.

Parubiy, 54, rose to prominence during Ukraine's Euromaidan mass protests, which advocated closer ties with the EU and brought down pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

A special operation, codenamed Siren, has now been launched by Ukrainian authorities aimed at tracking down and arresting the suspected shooter. All necessary forces and means are being deployed, Zelensky said in a statement.

Ukraine's prosecutors stated that an unidentified gunman fired several shots at the politician and that Parubiy died on the spot. Lviv police chief Oleksandr Shliakhovskyi reported that the gunman had fired about eight shots from a firearm, which has not yet been identified. The attack appeared to have been very carefully planned.

Investigators are looking into all possible motives for the attack, including potential Russian involvement. Sources indicated that seven shell casings were found at the scene.

The assailant reportedly posed as a courier for the delivery company Glovo and was seen carrying a yellow delivery bag, with an electric bicycle also noted as being part of the crime.

Parubiy was a pivotal figure in the Euromaidan protests and later became secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, particularly during the turbulent period following Russia's annexation of Crimea. He had participated in Ukraine's territorial defense during the recent conflict with Russia.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha remembered him as a patriot and statesman who made an enormous contribution to the defence of Ukraine's freedom, independence and sovereignty. Former President Petro Poroshenko characterized the assassination as a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine, underlining Parubiy's significant contributions to the country.