New footage circulating online claims to show the moment a prominent Ukrainian pro-European politician was killed in western Ukraine earlier this weekend.
Why It Matters
Officials in Ukraine said on Saturday that Andriy Parubiy, a former speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, had been shot dead in the city of Lviv.
What To Know
An unverified clip published online purports to show the shooting, with what appears to be a gunman posing as a courier with a yellow bag approaching Parubiy from behind—the pair are obscured from view by a tree. The unidentified person then flees.
Newsweek could not independently verify the footage and has reached out to Ukrainian authorities for comment.
An anonymous source in Ukraine’s law enforcement told the BBC that Parubiy’s attacker was dressed as a courier for major delivery company, Glovo. A spokesperson for the company said they were “deeply shocked by the brutal crime” and would work with investigators.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said “many resources” were being funneled into an investigation, which authorities called Operation Siren.
The motive behind the attack, and the attacker’s identity, are still unclear. Lviv’s head prosecutor Mykola Meret, said all possible motives were being looked at, including Russian involvement, according to domestic reports.
“Every effort is being made to solve this crime,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Who Was Andriy Parubiy?
Parubiy was a prominent figure in the pro-European Euromaidan protests in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that spelled the end for Kremlin-leaning then-president Viktor Yanukovych, and remained an MP in the country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
He served as secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council in 2014, and the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada between 2016 and 2019. He reportedly later joined Ukraine’s territorial defense in 2022.
Ukrainian prosecutors said on Saturday an “unknown man” had fired “several shots” at the Ukrainian politician before fleeing.
Maksym Kozytsky, the head of the regional administration in Lviv, said Parubiy had died before emergency services could reach the scene.
“Today Ukraine lost Andriy Parubiy,” Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said in a post to messaging app Telegram. “The main thing is to give law enforcement officers time to clarify all the circumstances and find the shooter.”
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said residents close to the scene of the murder and those visiting the area should be aware of more patrols and checkpoints, as well as authorities checking cars and documents.
What People Are Saying
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Saturday: “My condolences to the family and loved ones, to friends of Andriy Parubiy.”
“Terrible news for Lviv about the murder of Andriy Parubiy,” Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Saturday. “My sincere condolences to his family and friends.”
What Happens Next
The investigation is ongoing, and Parubiy’s funeral will take place in Lviv on Tuesday.
The post Video Shows Murder of Ukrainian Lawmaker Andriy Parubiy—Report appeared first on Newsweek.
