Former Ukrainian MP Iryna Farion Shot Dead in Lviv
Iryna Farion, a former Ukrainian MP known for her nationalist views, was shot and killed on a street in Lviv.
Farion, 60, was a linguistics professor who made headlines in 2023 for saying Ukrainians should never speak Russian, which she called the language of Ukraine’s enemies.
Her death is being investigated as a possible targeted attack, though the exact motive is unclear. Police are still searching for the attacker, and a power outage at the time has complicated the investigation.
Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed Farion died in the hospital after being shot. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko suggested the murder might be linked to her political activities or personal disputes and didn’t rule out the possibility that it was planned.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the violence, calling for those responsible to be held accountable.
Farion’s former political party, Svoboda, accused Russia of orchestrating the killing. Farion had been controversial for her strong stance against the Russian language, which led to her dismissal from a university and an investigation by Ukraine’s Security Service.
The situation remains tense as authorities continue to piece together the motive behind her death.