Ukrainian politician assassinated in horror shooting as Russia blamed for attack

The former Speaker of Ukraine's Parliament has been assassinated in Lviv as MPs in Kyiv blame Russia for the killing. Andriy Parubiy was killed on Saturday with authorities saying the shooting happened around midday in the Sykhiv district.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the death and said that investigators had briefed him on the "horrendous" incident. "My condolences to his family and loved ones," the president wrote on X. "All necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer."

According to reports, the attacker fled the scene on an electric bike and may have been disguised as a delivery courier. The gunman is still at large.

This was confirmed by Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who are leading the investigation with support from local police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

In a statement, Lviv police said: "Law enforcement officers are taking all measures to establish the identity of the shooter and his location."

Officers cordoned off the area near Akademika Yefremova Street, where the shooting took place.

Parubiy's body was reportedly found on the pavement, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses said the gunman wore a black helmet with yellow markings and escaped quickly on an e-bike.

One local report said up to seven shell casings were recovered at the site.

Ukrainian MP Iryna Gerashchenko, a fellow member of European Solidarity, accused Russia of being behind the attack.

"We associate this murder with his state-building pro-Ukrainian position," she said. "Behind this brutal crime may stand our eternal enemy and terrorist - the Russian Federation and its fifth column.

"Moscow sincerely hated Parubiy as one of the state builders of modern Ukraine. Above all in life, Andriy loved Ukraine."

She also called for a full investigation, saying: "There must be an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation into the murder of this statesman."

Parubiy, 54, was known for his strong pro-Ukrainian stance and had been an active political figure for decades.

He served as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, and was a senior member of the opposition party European Solidarity.

He was also a leading figure in the 2014 Maidan protests, which led to the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. During that time, he was dubbed the "commandant of Maidan".

There had been a previous assassination attempt on Parubiy in 2014 when he was Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. A grenade was thrown at him but failed to cause injury.

Parubiy had long been viewed as an opponent by Moscow, with Russian media branding him a nationalist figure.