Assassination of Andriy Parubiy

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Assassination of Andriy Parubiy
Parubiy (left, behind the red car) moments before being assassinated
Map
LocationYefremov Street, Lviv, Ukraine[1]
Date30 August 2025
c. 10:35 a.m.[2] (EEST)
TargetAndriy Parubiy
Deaths1
AccusedMykhailo Stselnikov[3]
Parubiy in 2024

Andriy Parubiy, a Ukrainian politician, was shot and killed in Lviv, Ukraine, on 30 August 2025.[4] The attack occurred at around 10:35 am EEST[2] on Yefremov Street.[1] A suspect had been arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast by 1 September.[5]

Assassination

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CCTV footage of the shooting shows a gunman disguised as a delivery driver and carrying a yellow Glovo delivery bag, approach Parubiy from behind on the street. The suspect fired seven to eight rounds at Parubiy before fleeing on a e-bike.[6][7][8] Lviv journalist Mykola Saveliev reported that the shooter likely used a Makarov pistol, and four of the multiple bullets hit Parubiy. The assassin had been staking out a neighboring building for several days before the killing.[9]

Member of the Ukrainian Parliament Volodymyr Ariev stated that six months before the assassination, Parubiy asked for state security to be provided and that his request was declined. The State Security Administration responded, stating that Parubiy did not qualify for protection under the rules for providing security protection for former officials.[10]

Suspect

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The suspect has been identified as Mykhailo Stselnikov,[3] a 52-year-old resident of Lviv.[11] His former wife, Olena Cherninka, stated that their son had a serious conflict with his father when the son joined the armed forces.[12] At the start of the Russian invasion, Stselnikov's son served in the same unit as Andriy Parubiy.[13] The suspect visited the same gym as Parubiy.[14]

According to an investigation by Telebachennia Toronto, Stselnikov had a history of pro-Russian activity online, accusing Ukraine of being behind the Kramatorsk railway station attack and questioning the Bucha massacre. The discovered social media posts and messages included an attempt to share information with the Russian side, support for the killer of Demyan Hanul, comments about Ukrainian politicians including Parubiy, and a request for advice on whether Stselnikov could leverage his son's disappearance to leave Ukraine.[15][16][17]

Investigation

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Following the attack on Parubiy, Ukraine's law enforcement officers launched a manhunt for the suspect, codenamed "Siren", aimed to track down and arrest the perpetrator.[18] Stselnikov was arrested within 36 hours of the shooting. His actions were classified as intentional murder and illegal handling of a weapon under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.[19]

The head of Lviv Oblast police, Oleksandr Shliakhovskyi, said that the attack was "carefully planned" and that the perpetrator "prepared it very thoroughly".[20] The head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivskyi, said that the case had a Russian footprint.[19] The authorities were investigating the possible motives, including the assassination being an order from Russia.[21]

During an interrogation, the suspect stated that he had been in contact with Russia on the search for his son, who had served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and disappeared on the Bakhmut front. 5 Kanal reported that the Russian special services blackmailed the suspect with information about the location of his son's body, while Vysokyy zamok reported that the Russians offered the body in exchange for the assassination of any known Ukrainian politician.[22]

During his initial court appearance, the suspect admitted to the killing but denied acting on behalf of Russia. He explained the targeting of Parubiy by his proximity and said the killing was an act of "personal revenge on the Ukrainian authorities" following the death of his son at the front.[23] He also expressed willingness to be included in a prisoner exchange with Russia in order to search for his son's body.[24] The court ordered that Stselnikov remain detained for 60 days, justifying the decision by detailing that he fled the scene, burned his clothes and disassembled his bicycle in a forest, reached the Kolodiivka village near the border of Ukraine, and was told via Telegram to await further instructions to aid his escape.[25] The authorities were still looking for the murder weapon.[14]

Both Parubiy's father and former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Gyunduz Mamedov, believed that Russia was behind the killing, as Moscow considered him responsible for deaths during the 2014 Odesa clashes.[14] On 3 October 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said it had enough evidence to prove that Russian intelligence agencies had ordered the assassination. The SBU stated that the suspect had been recruited more than a year prior, collecting intelligence and reporting back to Russia before its security services entrusted him with the killing and financed its preparations. The charges against the suspect have been amended with treason committed under martial law, and killing a public official in connection with state duties.[26][27]

Reactions

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the killing as a "terrible murder" and announced that all necessary resources would be deployed to investigate the case and find the perpetrator.[28] Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Parubiy as "a patriot and statesman who made an enormous contribution to the defence of Ukraine's freedom, independence and sovereignty."[29] Former president Petro Poroshenko called the assassination "a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine."[30] Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called for a prompt investigation of the murder, calling it "a profound loss" for the country.[31]

Parubiy's parliamentary political party, European Solidarity, asked President Zelenskyy to award him the title of Hero of Ukraine.[32] On 18 September, 230 Ukrainian MPs, exceeding the required 226, supported a petition to the Ukrainian President asking to award Parubiy the title.[33] Parubiy was posthumously awarded on 1 October 2025.[34]

Tetiana Chornovol took Parubiy's position in the Parliament, as she was next on the European Solidarity party list from the 2019 election.[35]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Вісім пострілів, ретельний план і декілька версій: головне про вбивство Парубія". rbc.ua (in Ukrainian). 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b Pitsuryak, Khrystyna (30 August 2025). "У СБУ заявили, що поява в мережі відео вбивства Андрія Парубія є «несанкціонованим витоком»" [The SBU stated that the video of Andriy Parubiy's murder that appeared online is an "unauthorized leak"]. The New Voice of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b AFP (2 September 2025). "Suspected Assassin of Ukrainian Politician Denies Working for Russia". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  4. ^ Malenko, Anastasiia (30 August 2025). "Former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Parubiy killed in Lviv, Zelenskiy says". Reuters. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Suspect in shooting of Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy arrested". BBC News. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  6. ^ Bennett, Tom (30 August 2025). "Prominent Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy shot dead in Lviv". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  7. ^ Ann-Marie Dom, Evelyn (30 August 2025). "Former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy shot dead in Lviv". Euronews. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  8. ^ Adeosun, Adeola (30 August 2025). "Manhunt underway in western Ukraine after assassination of former lawmaker". Newsweek.
  9. ^ Rudenko, Oleksii (30 August 2025). "Пильнував кілька днів: журналіст помітив спільні риси між вбивством Парубія та Фаріон" [The killer staked out for several days: A journalist noticed similarities between the murders of Parubiy and Farion]. Focus (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  10. ^ "УДО відреагувало на звинувачення в ЗМІ щодо відмови Парубію в держохороні" [The State Security Administration reacted to the accusations in the media regarding the refusal of state protection for Parubiy]. Interfax-Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Son did not communicate with father because one was a patriot, other was not – ex-wife of suspect in murder of MP Parubiy". Interfax-Ukraine. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  12. ^ Янченко, Володимир (2 September 2025). "Вбивця Парубія не виховував сина, а коли той пішов на війну - посварився з ним, - екс-дружина". Censor.net (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Що відомо про сина, якого згадав підозрюваний у вбивстві Андрія Парубія" [What is known about the son mentioned by the suspect in Andriy Parubiy's murder?]. BBC News (in Ukrainian). 3 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Tereshchuk, Halyna (16 September 2025). "Убивство Парубія. Яку версію щодо замовників та мотивів злочину назвав батько убитого?" [The murder of Parubiy. What version of the crime's masterminds and motives did the father of the deceased name?]. RFE/RL (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  15. ^ Гичко, Марта (7 September 2025). "Підозрюваний у вбивстві Парубія виправдовував РФ ще до зникнення сина на фронті, - ЗМІ". UNIAN (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  16. ^ Усик, Дмитро (7 September 2025). "Ймовірний вбивця Парубія підтримував Росію задовго до зникнення сина – розслідування". 24 Kanal (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ^ Тивін, Зоряна (7 September 2025). "Підозрюваний у вбивстві Андрія Парубія роками підтримував Росію та ненавидів ЗСУ". Espreso TV (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Special operation "Siren" announced in Lviv due to Parubiy's murder". Liga.net. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  19. ^ a b Романенко, Валентина. "Поліція каже про слід РФ у вбивстві Парубія, показали фото затримання підозрюваного". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Police and prosecutors report on investigation into Ukrainian MP Parubii's murder". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  21. ^ Бережна, Дар'я (1 September 2025). "Правоохоронці провели брифінг щодо вбивства Андрія Парубія: головні заяви". Focus (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Під час допитів підозрюваний у вбивстві Парубія зізнався у скоєному і розповів про свої контакти з РФ – джерела". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  23. ^ "'Revenge on Ukraine': Suspect in Kyiv lawmaker's murder admits guilt; denies working for Russia". The Times of India. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  24. ^ "Suspect admits to killing Ukraine's ex-parliament speaker". The Kyiv Independent. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  25. ^ Арунян, Олексій (3 September 2025). "Що в суді стало відомо про вбивство Парубія та мотиви підозрюваного" (in Ukrainian). Suspilne. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Ukraine accuses Russian intelligence of ordering assassination of ex-Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy". The Kyiv Independent. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  27. ^ Romanenko, Valentyna. "Suspect in MP Parubii's murder acted on orders from Russian secret services – Ukraine's Security Service". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Ukrainian former parliamentary speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv". Reuters. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Prominent Ukrainian politician shot dead in 'carefully planned attack,' police say". CNN. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Former Ukrainian Parliamentary Leader Shot Dead". The Wall Street Journal. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  31. ^ Malenko, Anastasiia; Malenko, Anastasiia (30 August 2025). "Ukrainian former parliamentary speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv". Reuters. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Фракція «Європейська солідарність» ініціює нагородження Парубія званням Героя України" [he European Solidarity faction is initiating the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to Parubiy]. Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 30 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Рада звернулася до президента щодо присвоєння Парубію звання Героя України" [The Rada appealed to the President regarding the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to Parubiy]. RFE/RL (in Ukrainian). 18 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Ex-parliament speaker Parubii posthumously awarded Ukraine's highest honor". The Kyiv Independent. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  35. ^ "ЦВК визнала Тетяну Чорновол обраною народною депутаткою України" [The Central Election Commission recognized Tetiana Chornovol as an elected People's Deputy of Ukraine]. RFE/RL (in Ukrainian). 18 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.