Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Killed in Lviv, Suspect Detained

Andriy Parubiy, former Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament and a prominent pro-European and anti-Russian politician, was assassinated in Lviv on August 30, 2025. The suspect, detained shortly after the killing, confessed to the murder, describing it as an act of revenge against Ukrainian authorities and revealing he was emotionally manipulated by Russian intelligence, which exploited the death of his missing son to coerce him. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the police chief, have publicly accused Russian involvement in the meticulously planned assassination, linking it to Russia’s broader efforts to target Ukrainian political figures opposing Kremlin influence. Parubiy had been a key figure in Ukraine’s major democratic movements, including the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, and was reportedly on Russian assassination lists prior to the war. Ukrainian authorities are continuing their investigation with the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine, while political factions are advocating for measures to prevent similar attacks, such as de-anonymizing Telegram to combat Russian intelligence recruitment tactics. Zelenskyy condemned the killing as a horrific crime and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.