Investigation initiated following the murder of a Ukrainian politician in a public street, suspected to be an assassination.

Prominent Ukrainian Politician Andriy Parubiy Shot Dead in Lviv

In a shocking turn of events, the prominent Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday. According to official reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has confirmed the first known circumstances of Parubiy's murder.

Parubiy, who was 54 years old at the time of his death, was one of the leaders of the protests in 2013-14 calling for closer ties with the European Union. He served as parliamentary speaker from April 2016 to August 2019. Prior to this role, he was a member of parliament and served as secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council from February to August 2014.

The shooting occurred around noon (0900 GMT) near the city centre, according to the National police. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi has considered the attack to be a matter of security in a country at war, where there are no completely safe places. He has emphasised the importance of finding the killer and establishing the circumstances of the attack.

President Zelenskiy has sent his condolences to Parubiy's family and loved ones, stating that all necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer. The location of the shooting was the western city of Lviv.

The killing of Parubiy is under investigation, with a search underway for the killer who was reportedly disguised as a delivery driver. No immediate indication has been given as to whether the murder has any direct link to Russia's war in Ukraine. The name of the suspect detained in connection with the suspected murder has not been officially disclosed in the available reports. Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a suspect but have not released the identity publicly.

Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula during the time Parubiy served as secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council. No further details about the circumstances of the shooting have been disclosed at this time. The investigation into Parubiy's murder is ongoing.