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New online footage purports to show the shooting of prominent Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy, a former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament. The incident occurred in Lviv earlier this weekend.
Why It Matters:
Ukrainian officials confirmed on Saturday that Andriy Parubiy had been shot dead in Lviv.
What To Know:
An unverified video reportedly shows the shooting. The footage appears to depict a man, claiming to be a courier with a yellow bag, approaching Parubiy from behind as he is obscured by a tree. After the incident, the unidentified person flees.
Newsweek could not independently verify this footage and has reached out to Ukrainian authorities for comment.
According to an anonymous source in Ukraine’s law enforcement, Parubiy’s attacker was dressed as a Glovo courier. The company stated they were deeply shocked by the crime and would cooperate with investigators.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that “many resources” are being allocated to the investigation, which authorities have named Operation Siren.
The motive behind the attack and the attacker’s identity remain unclear. Lviv’s head prosecutor Mykola Meret said all potential motives were under consideration, including Russian involvement.
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Figure:
[Image: Andriy Parubiy addressing media during a presidential election in Kyiv on April 21, 2019. Credit: Stringer / Sputnik via AP]
Who Was Andriy Parubiy?
Parubiy was a key figure in the pro-European Euromaidan protests from 2013 to 2014 that led to the fall of Kremlin-aligned President Viktor Yanukovych. He remained an MP and served as Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary from 2014 to 2015, and later as Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) between 2016 and 2019. In 2022, he reportedly joined Ukraine’s territorial defense.
On Saturday, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that an “unknown man” fired several shots at Parubiy before fleeing. Maksym Kozytsky, the head of the regional administration in Lviv, stated that Parubiy had died before emergency services could reach him.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram: “Today Ukraine lost Andriy Parubiy. The main thing is to give law enforcement officers time to clarify all circumstances and find the shooter.”
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi advised residents near the scene of the murder and those visiting the area to be aware of increased patrols, checkpoints, and vehicle checks.
What People Are Saying:
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky: “My condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi: “Terrible news for Lviv about the murder of Andriy Parubiy. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.”
What Happens Next:
The investigation is ongoing, with Parubiy’s funeral set for Tuesday in Lviv.
