Ukraine holds farewell for former parliamentary speaker killed in shooting

Ukraine held farewell ceremonies in Lviv and Kyiv on Monday (September 1) for former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was shot dead in Lviv two days earlier.

In Lviv, mourners gathered at St. George's Cathedral where Parubiy’s coffin was placed for public tribute. In Kyiv, former President Petro Poroshenko joined those in Maidan Square, saying Parubiy had long been prepared to die for Ukraine “from a Russian bullet.”

Ukrainian officials have accused Russian security services of organising the killing, describing it as a contract-style assassination. Moscow, at war with Ukraine since early 2022, has not commented, and no group has claimed responsibility.

Authorities said the suspect, a 52-year-old resident of Lviv, disguised himself as a courier before firing eight shots. He was later detained in western Ukraine and is under investigation.

Parubiy, 54, was a prominent leader of the 2014 pro-European protests that toppled a pro-Russian government. He went on to serve as speaker of parliament between 2016 and 2019.

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