Disguised gunman who assassinated distinguished Ukraine politician is linked to Russia, Kyiv says

Kyiv on Monday mentioned Russia was linked to the weekend assassination of a pro-Western Ukrainian politician after the arrest of a suspect alleged to have carried out the capturing disguised as a courier.

Andriy Parubiy, a former speaker of parliament and main determine in Ukraine’s pro-European protest actions of 2004 and 2014, was shot lifeless on Saturday within the western metropolis of Lviv, close to EU and NATO member Poland.

Police mentioned the suspect, whose arrest was introduced early Monday, shot Parubiy eight instances in broad daylight earlier than fleeing the scene.  

“We all know that this crime was not unintended. There’s a Russian hint in it,” nationwide police chief Ivan Vygivsky mentioned in a social media post.

Vygivsky hooked up two photos of the arrest, displaying a shirtless man being apprehended by officers in navy uniform in what gave the impression to be an condo.

Sources inside Ukraine’s legislation enforcement companies told CBS News partner BBC News that the attacker had dressed to appear like a employee from supply firm Glovo. The corporate mentioned it was “deeply shocked” by the crime and would cooperate absolutely with an investigation.

The inside minister earlier mentioned the killing had been fastidiously deliberate, echoing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy mentioned Inside Minister Igor Klymenko and safety service chief Vasyl Maliuk had knowledgeable him of the arrest.

In a subsequent publish after having spoken to chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko, he added: “The suspect has given an preliminary testimony.

“Klymenko mentioned dozens of law enforcement officials and safety officers had been concerned within the arrest within the Khmelnytsky area of western Ukraine.

“I’ll solely say that the crime was fastidiously ready: the schedule of the deceased’s actions was studied, the route was laid, and an escape plan was thought out.”

Some earlier tributes from Ukrainian officers to Parubiy, who was nonetheless a member of parliament, hinted at Russian involvement.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started in 2022, each side have accused one another of assassinations of political and navy figures.

Russian state media mentioned Parubiy has been wished by Russian authorities since 2023.

Parubiy, who had studied historical past, had campaigned for Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.

He was additionally a significant supporter of using the Ukrainian language over Russian.

Through the Maidan protests of 2014, he was a “commander” of opposition self-defense forces.

The demonstrations led to the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin management and precipitated a Moscow-backed separatist rebellion within the east of the nation.

That very same 12 months, Ukrainian media mentioned he survived an assassination try by grenade.

After the ousting of then Ukrainian chief Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia, Parubiy served on the Nationwide Safety and Protection Council for a number of months.

Final month, one in every of Ukraine’s safety high service members, Colonel Ivan Voronych,  was killed in a daring daylight assault in Kyiv.  Days later, Ukraine’s safety company mentioned it tracked down and killed two Russian brokers suspected of murdering Voronych.