Andriy Parubiy , a Ukrainian politician, was shot and killed in Lviv, Ukraine, on 30 August 2025.[4] The attack occurred at around 10:35 am EEST[2] on Yefremov Street.[1] A suspect had been arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast by 1 September.[5]
CCTV footage of the shooting shows a gunman disguised as a delivery driver and carrying a yellow Glovo delivery bag, approach Parubiy from behind on the street. The suspect fired seven to eight rounds at Parubiy before fleeing on a e-bike.[6][7][8] Lviv journalist Mykola Saveliev reported that the shooter likely used a Makarov pistol, and four of the multiple bullets hit Parubiy. The assassin had been staking out a neighboring building for several days before the killing.[9]
Member of the Ukrainian ParliamentVolodymyr Ariev stated that six months before the assassination, Parubiy asked for state security to be provided and that his request was declined. The State Security Administration responded, stating that Parubiy did not qualify for protection under the rules for providing security protection for former officials.[10]
Suspect
The suspect has been identified as Mykhailo Stselnikov,[3] a 52-year-old resident of Lviv.[11] His former wife, Olena Cherninka, stated that their son, Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnikov, had a serious conflict with his father when he joined the armed forces.[12] At the start of the Russian invasion, he served in the same unit as Andriy Parubiy.[13]
According to an investigation by Telebachennia Toronto, the suspect had a history of pro-Russian activity online, accusing Ukraine of being behind the Kramatorsk railway station attack and questioning the Bucha massacre. The reporters stated that he attempted to share information with the Russian side, made comments about Ukrainian politicians including Parubiy, and asked for advice on whether he could use his son's disappearance to leave Ukraine.[14][15][16]
Investigation
Following the attack on Parubiy, a manhunt for the suspect, codenamed "Siren", was launched by authorities aimed to track down and arrest the perpetrator.[17] Stselnikov was arrested within 36 hours of the shooting. His actions were classified as intentional murder and illegal handling of a weapon under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.[18]
The head of Lviv Oblast police, Oleksandr Shliakhovskyi, said that the attack was "carefully planned" and that the perpetrator "prepared it very thoroughly".[19] The head of the National Police of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhivskyi, said that the case had a Russian footprint.[18] The authorities were investigating the possible motives, including the assassination being an order from Russia.[20]
During an interrogation, the suspect stated that he had been in contact with Russia on the search for his son, who had served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and disappeared on the Bakhmut front. 5 Kanal reported that the Russian special services blackmailed the suspect with information about the location of his son's body, while Vysokyy zamok reported that the Russians offered the body in exchange for the assassination of any known Ukrainian politician.[21]
During his initial court appearance, the suspect admitted to the killing but denied acting on behalf of Russia. He explained the targeting of Parubiy by his proximity and said the killing was an act of "personal revenge on the Ukrainian authorities" following the death of his son at the front.[22] He also expressed willingness to be included in a prisoner exchange with Russia in order to search for his son's body.[23] The court ordered that Stselnikov remains detained for 60 days, justifying the decision by detailing that he fled the scene, burned his clothes and disassembled his bicycle in a forest, reached the Kolodiivka village near the border of Ukraine, and was told via Telegram to await further instructions to aid his escape.[24]
Reactions
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the killing as a "terrible murder" and announced that all necessary resources would be deployed to investigate the case and find the perpetrator.[25] Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Parubiy as "a patriot and statesman who made an enormous contribution to the defence of Ukraine's freedom, independence and sovereignty."[17] Former president Petro Poroshenko called the assassination "a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine."[26] Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called for a prompt investigation of the murder, calling it "a profound loss" for the country.[27]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
