THIS is the horrifying moment a gunman posing as a delivery driver gunned down a top Ukrainian politician in broad daylight.
Former Parliament Speaker and MP Andriy Parubiy, 54, was killed in a “horrendous” shooting in Lviv – with the killer still on the run.
East2WestUkrainian politician Andriy Parubiy, 54, was shot dead in Ukraine[/caption]
East2WestThe moment Andriy Parubiy (L) was assassinated by a gunman (R)[/caption]
East2WestA biker allegedly shot dead the politician, pictured[/caption]
GettyPresident of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (C), and Parliamentary Chairman Andriy Parubiy (L)[/caption]
The deadly 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.
In shocking footage, the gunman is seen approaching Parubiy from the road while holding a yellow delivery bag and dressed in all-black.
He follows Parubiy – a staunch Zelensky ally – before opening fire and killing him.
The assassin sprints off in a hurry back towards his bike as he makes a desperate escape.
Describing it as a “horrendous” murder, Zelensky said on X: “Andriy Parubiy was killed. My condolences to his family and loved ones.”
The president added: “All necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer.”
He revealed that the attack on Parubiy was “carefully prepared”, and added “everything” was being done to investigate his death.
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.”
MP Iryna Gerashchenko – from the same party as the slain politician – blamed Russia for the killing.
She said: “My throat tightens with rage and hatred towards the enemy.”
Gerashchenko demanded “an immediate, thorough, professional, transparent investigation into the murder of the statesman”.
She added: “We associate this murder with his state-building pro-Ukrainian position and believe that behind this brutal crime may stand our eternal enemy and terrorist – the Russian Federation and its fifth column.”
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.
ReutersThe scene of the deadly shooting on Akademika Yefremova Street, in Lviv[/caption]
EPAThe former speaker of Ukrainian Parliament pictured during the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022[/caption]
EPAPresident Zelensky announced the tragic news on X[/caption]
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.
He also predicted the invasion of Ukraine years ago, previously saying: “Putin has one goal – to take full control of Moldova, Belarus, and Georgia, but I dare to suggest that first and foremost he wants to take control of Ukraine.
“He has a maniacal idea: to restore the geopolitical power of the Kremlin that existed during the Soviet Union era.”
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.
ReutersThe killing unfolded in broad daylight[/caption]
GettyHe survived an assassination attempt in 2014[/caption]
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.”
Prominent Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko said of the murdered politician: “It’s hard to believe. But unfortunately, it is true… Andriy Parubiy has died.
“A true friend and colleague. He was an exceptionally good person and a true patriot of Ukraine.”
He vowed: “The killers must be found and punished.”
One witness reportedly said seven shell casings were found at the scene of the brutal murder.
The area where the horrific killing unfolded was cordoned off while cops investigated.
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.
East2WestThe suspect fled on an electric bike, witnesses said[/caption]
GettyThe ex-Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament was killed in the west of the country[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
