A TOP Ukrainian politician has been assassinated by a gunman in broad daylight – sparking an urgent manhunt for the masked killer.
Former Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, 54, was murdered in a “horrendous” shooting in Lviv, western Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
GettyPresident of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (C), and Parliamentary Chairman Andriy Parubiy (L)[/caption]
East2WestUkrainian politician Andriy Parubiy, 54, was shot dead in Ukraine[/caption]
East2WestA biker allegedly shot dead the politician, pictured[/caption]
East2WestThe scene of the deadly shooting on Akademika Yefremova Street, in Lviv[/caption]
The terrifying shooting unfolded at around 12pm on Saturday in the Sykhovsky district – before the killer fled on what is believed to be an electric bike.
The deadly assassin was reportedly disguised as a courier working for delivery firm Glovo.
Zelensky said on X: “Andriy Parubiy was killed. My condolences to his family and loved ones.
“Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko have just reported the first known circumstances of the horrendous murder in Lviv.”
The president added: “All necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer.”
A murder investigation has now been launched by local police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Local cops announced that a well-known “public and political figure born in 1971”, had been killed before Parubiy’s identity was revealed.
They said: “Law enforcement officers are taking all measures to establish the identity of the shooter and his location.
“All details will be disclosed in the manner and to the extent stipulated by criminal procedural legislation.”
The tragic politician was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene.
His corpse was found on a pavement on Akademika Yefremova Street in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv.
The former Speaker of Parliament was shot between five and eight times, reports say.
Parubiy previously served as the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament.
He was prominent in the protests in Kyiv in 2014 that led to the toppling of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych.
The staunchly pro-Ukrainian politician was known as the “commandant of Maidan” – the tent camp that led the demonstrations in Kyiv.
East2WestThe suspect fled on an electric bike, witnesses said[/caption]
EPAThe former speaker of Ukrainian Parliament pictured during the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022[/caption]
In 2014 there was a separate failed assassination attempt on Parubiy, who was serving as Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council secretary.
An anonymous suspect threw a grenade at his feet – before it rolled under a car and exploded.
Top politician Parubiy was seen as an enemy by Russia.
Relishing his killing, Russian news outlet Shot reported on Saturday: “Parubiy was an active supporter of Ukrainian nationalists.”
EPAPresident Zelensky announced the tragic news on X[/caption]
GettyHe survived an assassination attempt in 2014[/caption]
One witness reportedly said seven shell casings were found at the scene of the brutal murder.
The area where the horrific killing unfolded has been cordoned off while cops continue to investigate.
The attacker wore a black helmet with yellow markings and was riding an electric bicycle, witnesses said.
Pictures showed the biker speeding away just moments after the deadly shooting.
Parubiy was also a senior figure in European Solidarity, the political party led by former President Pedro Poroshenko, now the main opposition party to Zelensky’s ruling party.
GettyThe ex-Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament was killed in the west of the country[/caption]
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