Former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday, and a manhunt is underway for the killer, according to the Prosecutor General's office. The gunman reportedly fired several shots at Parubiy, killing him on the spot before fleeing the scene.

Parubiy, 54, was a member of parliament and served as parliamentary speaker from April 2016 to August 2019. He was also one of the key leaders of the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests, which called for closer ties with the European Union.

Additionally, he served as the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council during a critical period in 2014, when fighting began in eastern Ukraine and Russia annexed Crimea.

While no immediate connection to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has been established, Parubiy’s prominent role in Ukraine’s sovereignty and defense efforts has drawn tributes from many, including former President Petro Poroshenko.

Poroshenko called the killing "a shot fired at the heart of Ukraine," while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha hailed Parubiy as "a patriot and statesman who made an enormous contribution to the defense of Ukraine's freedom, independence, and sovereignty."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences, condemning the killing and vowing that all necessary forces would be used to track down the killer.

The shooting occurred around noon (0900 GMT), and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi stressed that finding the killer and investigating the circumstances of the attack is crucial.

"This is a matter of security in a country at war," Sadovyi said on Telegram.

Tributes from colleagues and politicians poured in, with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko calling Parubiy’s death a "profound loss" for the nation.

Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office announced the launch of a special operation called "Siren" to investigate the murder.

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