A prominent Ukrainian politician and former parliamentary speaker, Andriy Parubiy, was fatally shot in Lviv on Saturday, August 30, 2025, prompting a swift investigation and widespread tributes.
The shooting occurred around noon in Lviv’s Frankivsk district, where Parubiy, 54, was killed instantly by multiple gunshots, according to the Prosecutor General’s office.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the assailant, disguised as a courier and riding an electric bicycle, fled the scene, leading to a manhunt involving national and regional police, as well as Ukraine’s security service.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the act as a “horrific murder” and vowed that “all necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer.”
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi emphasized the urgency of identifying the attacker, stating, “This is a matter of security in a country at war, where, as we can see, there are no completely safe places.”
No motive or suspect details have been released, and authorities have not linked the killing to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Andriy Parubiy was a key figure in Ukraine’s political landscape, notably as a leader in the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, which pushed for closer European Union ties and ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
He served as parliamentary speaker from April 2016 to August 2019 and as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council in 2014, during Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the onset of conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion, Parubiy joined Ukraine’s territorial defense, further solidifying his role in national security efforts.
His contributions were widely recognized, With Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noting his “enormous contribution to the defence of Ukraine’s freedom, independence and sovereignty.”
The assassination has sent shockwaves through Ukraine, with leaders mourning Parubiy’s loss as a blow to the nation.
Former President Petro Poroshenko described the killing as “a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine,” praising Parubiy as “a great man and a true friend” who strengthened the Ukrainian army.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called for a prompt investigation, labeling the murder “a profound loss” for the country.
As Ukraine grapples with this tragedy amid ongoing conflict, Parubiy’s death underscores the challenges of security in a nation at war.