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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
In the Franykivskyi District Court of Lviv, the interrogation of Mykhailo Stsel’nikov, who is accused of killing former Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy, continued. The defendant publicly stated his desire to go to Russia within a prisoner swap and revealed details of planning the crime.
According to the Public news outlet, in the Franykivskyi district court of Lviv the hearing began in the presence of lawyers, the prosecutor, and the relatives of the deceased politician. Before the session began, the defendant handed journalists an open letter requesting to be sent to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange.
Preparation for the crime and escape
During the interrogation, Mykhailo Stsel’nikov said that before the murder he removed a Makarov pistol and two magazines from a forest hideout. To commit the crime he used the entire eight-round magazine, after which he buried the remaining ammunition in the forest.
According to the defendant, in case of failure with the pistol he planned to rework another weapon to the appropriate caliber, in particular a Flober pistol. After the crime, the man left Lviv by car toward the Khmelnytskyi region, planning to leave Ukraine further.
Stsel’nikov stated that he pursued two goals: revenge against the Ukrainian authorities and the search for his son, who died in Bakhmut. According to the defendant, he communicated on the Telegram network with a presumed representative of the Russian special services, who promised help with crossing the border.
Interrogation and the reaction of the victims' families
The wife of the deceased politician, Uliana Parubiy, asked the defendant about financial reward for the crime. Stsel’nikov stated that he refused the money and did not go to murder for financial gain.
While talking with the family of the deceased, the defendant also confirmed that he asked the Russian side for an exchange in case of his detention. "My son died (...) in the city of Bakhmut. It is known to me better than anyone what it means to lose a loved one and to wait months for any news about a son (...) Therefore I publicly declare my desire to voluntarily go to Russia for an exchange and save someone else's son," the letter says.
When Uliana Parubiy asked whether he considers himself valuable to Russia, Stsel’nikov shared his own view of his role. "Perhaps, for millions of Ukrainians I am a hero. And why not?" the defendant said in the courtroom.
Mykhailo Stsel’nikov in the courtroom, 10 September 2026 of the year / Public Lviv
Andriy Parubiy's father noted that his son had previously received threats and appeared on lists to be eliminated. The next court session in the case was scheduled for 30 September.
What is known about Andriy Parubiy's murder
As a reminder, earlier we wrote that 30 August 2025 of the year in Lviv an unknown person shot at Member of Parliament Andriy Parubiy, who died from the injuries at the scene. The attacker was dressed as a delivery courier and moved on an electric bike.
Law enforcement officers detained Stsel’nikov 1 September 2025 of the year in Khmelnytskyi region. Later the Security Service of Ukraine established that the man acted under the instructions of Russian intelligence agencies and had been preparing the crime for more than a year. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item ""Можливо, для українців я герой": обвинувачений у вбивстві Парубія попросив про обмін до Росії". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
