• Source:JND
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Prominent Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in a “carefully planned” attack in the western city of Lviv on Saturday. Officials confirmed that the killer, armed with a short-barreled firearm, fired several rounds before fleeing the scene. Parubiy, who was 54, succumbed to his injuries before medical personnel arrived, according to Maksym Kozitskiy, head of the Lviv regional military administration.

Authorities have launched a special operation, codenamed Siren, to track down and arrest the suspected shooter. Police said the assailant appeared to be “thoroughly prepared,” heightening concerns that the attack was premeditated. The perpetrator’s identity remains unknown.

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Zelenskyy Calls It “Horrendous Murder”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a “horrendous murder” in a statement on X. He confirmed that Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko had reported the initial findings. Zelenskyy expressed condolences to Parubiy’s family and stressed that “all necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer.”

Parubiy rose to prominence during the Euromaidan protests, where he became a visible figure advocating closer ties with the European Union. Over his career, he served as Speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament in the 2010s and as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council from February to August last year. His political journey began in the 1990s when Ukraine was undergoing a transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He co-founded the Social-National Party of Ukraine in 1991, later left the group, and went on to serve as a member of parliament from 2007 until his death.

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International Reactions And Condolences

News of Parubiy’s death drew widespread shock across Europe. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she was “deeply shocked by the terrible murder” and sent her condolences to Parubiy’s family and the people of Ukraine. Officials from Estonia and Poland also paid tribute to the late leader.

Video footage released by Reuters showed forensic teams and police officers working at the crime scene. A body lay on the ground with personal belongings, including a pair of glasses and a bag, scattered nearby. Authorities continue to collect evidence as the manhunt intensifies for the assailant responsible for the killing.