MOSCOW

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that former head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Andriy Parubiy was shot dead in Lviv.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the news was reported to him by Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.

According to Zelenskyy, the law enforcement officials only told him "the initial details surrounding the horrific murder in Lviv."

"Andriy Parubiy passed away. My condolences go out to his loved ones and close relatives. All necessary resources and personnel have been mobilized for the investigation and search for the killer," he said.

According to Ukrainian media, Parubiy was shot eight times, and as a result of his injuries, he died instantly.

Ukrainian media outlets also published photos from the scene of the murder, showing Parubiy and his alleged assailant riding an electric bicycle and carrying a courier bag.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder, and a special operation named Sirena has been launched to find the perpetrator.

Andriy Parubiy began his political career as a lawmaker and served as speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, from 2016 until 2019.

Between February and August 2014, he served as the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

He played a significant role in the Euromaidan protests and held influential positions in government and security agencies.

Parubiy was believed to be a member of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's team, whom the country's media and experts dubbed "Zelenskyy's main rival and opponent."