18-year-old suspect in Ukraine's ex-MP murder arrested in Dnipro

“The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko has just reported to me on the detention of a suspect in the murder of Iryna Farion in Dnipro,” he said.

According to him, the operation to detain the suspect was very difficult.

“During these days, hundreds of specialists from the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other services worked to solve the murder. I am grateful to each one who added more facts to the picture of the crime every day and brought the truth closer,” the president said.

He added that an 18-year-old was detained in Dnipro.

“The necessary investigative actions and examinations are underway. I have instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs to present all the details to the public,” he said.

Details

Klymenko says there is enough evidence to assert that it was the detainee who shot at the linguist.

“139 hours of continuous work by a huge team of operatives, investigators, criminal analysts, experts, other police services, and employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. We checked every corner of the shooter's escape route and searched about 100 hectares of forest. Eventually, the suspect was tracked down. We identified him. As we had his photo, it was a matter of time - smart video surveillance cameras caught him everywhere,” he said.

The Interior Minister said that the identification of the attacker and his detention was a painstaking process that required the highest professionalism, endurance, and discipline.

“About the suspect: 18 years old, a resident of Dnipro. Preparing for the crime, he rented at least 3 apartments in Lviv. He is now in police custody,” he said.

Klymenko adds that the investigation is now inclined to believe that the shooter is only the executor.

Photo: Detention of the suspect in Farion's murder (t.me/Klymenko_MVS)

Farion's murder

On July 19, at about 7:30 p.m., an unknown shot linguist Iryna Farion as she was waiting for a taxi at home in Lviv. The bullet hit her in the temple. After that, Farion was hospitalized in critical condition. She underwent surgery and was transferred to intensive care (she was in a deep brain coma and on artificial lung ventilation). But doctors couldn't save the 60-year-old woman and later announced her death.

Law enforcement officials announced a special operation to detain the shooter. A criminal case has been opened under Article 115 of the Criminal Code (premeditated murder). The police have several possible versions of the murder, including those connected to her social and political activities and personal animosity. The possibility of a Russian trace is also not ruled out.

At least one suspect in the case has been put on the wanted list. He was recorded on CCTV cameras on the eve of the murder. He has an atypical gait and bright clothes. Currently, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the arrest of the attacker is being supervised personally by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk.

Farion was buried on July 22 at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv. Thousands of Lviv residents came to say goodbye to the linguist.

Read more details in the RBC-Ukraine report.