Parubiy’s assassin worked for Russian intelligence, SBU says
Parubiy’s assassin in court, Sept. 2 (Photo: NV)
Case evidence shows the man who assassinated former parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy acted on orders from Russian intelligence, Ukraine’s SBU security service said on Oct. 3.
The suspect, a 52-year-old Lviv resident, has been charged with treason.
According to the SBU, the man was recruited by Russian agents more than a year ago while living in Lviv.
“Since then, he received assignments from the enemy and reported on their execution,” the security service said in a Telegram post.
“He first was tasked with spying on the movement of Ukrainian troops, giving the Russians corresponding coordinates. He also tried to work out the timetables of fuel trains.”
Later, the SBU said, Moscow tasked him with killing Parubiy and financed the preparations.
“To carry out the order, the suspect studied the lawmaker’s daily routine and travel routes,” the statement said.
“According to the investigation, the assassin also planned an escape abroad after the killing but was arrested in Khmelnytskyi Oblast before he could cross the border illegally.”
Now in pre-trial detention, the accused faces life imprisonment and asset confiscation if convicted.
On Aug. 30, former speaker of the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in the Frankivskyi district of Lviv.
The assassin was disguised as a Glovo courier, wore a black helmet, and rode an electric bicycle. He opened fire, shooting the politician eight times, then hid the weapon in a bag.
Overnight on Sept. 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the suspected killer had already been detained and had given his first testimony.
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