Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that security forces have apprehended a suspect in connection with the killing of Andriy Parubiy, the former parliamentary speaker and a prominent figure in the country’s pro-European political movement.
The arrest, confirmed by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, was made overnight in the Khmelnytskyi region. Authorities said the suspect had been under surveillance and had closely tracked Parubiy’s daily routine before carrying out the attack. According to investigators, the murder was carefully planned, with a clear escape route and logistics prepared in advance.
Parubiy, 54, was gunned down in the city of Lviv last week by an assailant reportedly posing as a delivery worker. The killing has shaken the nation, already reeling from the ongoing war with Russia, and has been described as a direct assault on Ukraine’s democratic institutions.
President Zelenskiy called the assassination a “horrific murder” and pledged that every detail of the crime would be uncovered. “The suspect has already given testimony,” the President said in a late-night Telegram post. “Urgent investigative actions are underway to establish all the circumstances of this terrible act.”
Andriy Parubiy was a central figure in Ukraine’s modern history. He served as Speaker of Parliament from 2016 to 2019 and was one of the leaders of the 2013–14 Maidan protests, where he helped organize defense forces that stood against government crackdowns. His role in pushing Ukraine toward a European path made him a symbolic target for forces opposed to the country’s independence and democratic reforms.
Authorities have launched a nationwide operation, codenamed “Operation Siren,” to determine whether the killing was part of a broader conspiracy. The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that police, security services, and prosecutors are working together to identify possible accomplices and the motive behind the assassination.
The killing of Parubiy is seen not only as a personal tragedy but also as a political turning point. Many Ukrainian lawmakers and allies abroad have expressed concerns that the assassination may have been aimed at undermining the country’s stability at a time when unity is most critical.