Former Ukrainian parliament speaker shot dead in Lviv

Saturday 30 August 2025 - 13:30

By: Sahili Aya

Former Ukrainian parliament speaker shot dead in Lviv

Former speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Andriy Parubiy, a prominent figure of the 2014 pro-European Maidan revolution, was shot dead on Saturday in the western city of Lviv, according to national authorities. The assailant fled the scene, prompting a large-scale manhunt.

The prosecutor general’s office confirmed that “an unidentified man fired several shots at the politician, killing Andriy Parubiy instantly.” A murder investigation has been opened, with investigators pledging to establish the identity of the suspect and clarify the circumstances of the attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the killing as a “horrible murder” and vowed that all necessary resources would be mobilized to ensure justice.

Parubiy, 54, served as Speaker of Parliament between 2016 and 2019 and had previously survived a grenade attack in 2014. He was deeply involved in Ukraine’s pro-European movements, first during the Orange Revolution in 2004 and later as a self-defense commander during the Maidan protests in 2014, which led to the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Tributes poured in from political leaders. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko hailed him as a “patriot who made a great contribution to the building of our state,” while parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said Parubiy had “dedicated his life to Ukraine’s independence.” Lawmakers described him as “one of the founders of modern Ukraine.”

Authorities reported that the suspect was disguised as a delivery worker on an electric bicycle. Photographs circulating in Ukrainian media showed the aftermath of the attack, though their authenticity has not been confirmed.