On April 1, 2026, the first preparatory hearing took place in the murder case of Ukrainian politician and civic activist Andriy Parubiy at a court in Lviv. The court granted permission for media coverage of the proceedings and extended the pre-trial detention of the accused, 53-year-old Mykhailo Stselnykov, until May 30, 2026, without the possibility of bail.
The prosecutor argued for the continued detention, citing Stselnykov’s previous statements expressing a desire to be exchanged by Russia, raising concerns about his potential flight risk. In addition, the relatives of the deceased politician have filed a civil suit seeking 15 million hryvnias in moral damages.
According to the victims’ lawyer, Yuriy Zoshiy, Stselnykov, as the father of a deceased Ukrainian soldier, is entitled to a one-time financial aid payment for his son’s death. This payment amounts to 15 million hryvnias, with Stselnykov’s share estimated at 7.5 million. Zoshiy noted that it would be illogical for the state to pay this sum to Stselnykov while he faces serious criminal charges that could lead to the confiscation of his assets.
The victims’ side is requesting the court to prohibit the Ministry of Defense and the command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces from disbursing any financial aid to Stselnykov until a verdict is reached in the criminal case. They justified the amount of the civil claim based on state compensation for individuals killed in combat.
Stselnykov has publicly stated that he will not apply for any financial compensation, emphasizing that his actions were driven by a personal vendetta against the Ukrainian government. He remarked, “I swore to take revenge, and I did. Money does not interest me.”
Stselnykov faces multiple charges under the Ukrainian Criminal Code, including:
- Article 111, part 2 (treason committed in a state of war);
- Article 109, part 3 (public calls for violent change of the constitutional order using media);
- Article 112, part 2 (attempt on the life of a state official in connection with their public activity, committed by a group of individuals);
- Article 263, part 1 (illegal possession of firearms and ammunition);
- Article 436-2, parts 1 and 3 (glorification of individuals involved in armed aggression against Ukraine).
Andriy Parubiy was a prominent figure in Ukrainian politics, having served as the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada from 2016 to 2019. He was shot and killed on August 30, 2025, near his residence.
The suspect, Stselnykov, was apprehended in Khmelnytskyi on September 1, 2025, and was remanded in custody without bail the following day. Prior to the hearing, he acknowledged his role in Parubiy’s death, framing it as personal retribution against the state for the loss of his son.
However, Stselnykov’s ex-wife, Olena Chernin, disputed his claims, stating that father and son had not been in contact for years. Their son, Mykhailo-Viktor Stselnykov, had been missing for over two years before DNA evidence confirmed his identity in a morgue in Chernihiv. He was buried in Lviv on March 3, 2026.
The next preparatory hearing in the murder case of Andriy Parubiy is scheduled for April 27, 2026.
The first hearing in the murder case of Ukrainian politician Andriy Parubiy revealed ongoing legal proceedings against the accused, Mykhailo Stselnykov, who faces multiple serious charges. The victims' relatives have filed a civil suit for damages, while Stselnykov has expressed no interest in financial compensation, framing his actions as personal revenge.