Political Assassinations in Ukraine (2014–Today)

Abducted from a hospital in Kyiv and later found dead in a forest, beaten and tortured. A seismologist from Lviv and committed Euromaidan activist, Verbytsky, was killed for his role in the uprising against the Yanukovych regime.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Attacked by armed men in civilian clothes and shot in the chest while returning home by taxi in Kyiv. Veremiy was a journalist for the newspaper Vesti and was reporting on Euromaidan. He was killed for covering the protests and exposing violent suppression.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Found dead in her apartment in Netishyn, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, showing signs of violent assault. Moroz was the editor-in-chief of Netishynsky Vistnyk, known for covering local politics and corruption. She was killed in the tense post-Euromaidan environment where journalists critical of authorities faced heightened risks.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Shot dead during a police operation in Rivne region. A leader of the Right Sector and active participant of Euromaidan, Muzychko was known for his radical stance against the authorities. His killing was seen as a political move to eliminate a powerful, uncontrollable activist after the revolution.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Abducted near his home in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi and later found dead in a forest with signs of brutal torture. Sergiyenko was a journalist, activist, and member of the Svoboda party, known for exposing corruption among local officials. He was killed for his political activism and investigations.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Former Member of Parliament from the Party of Regions. Strong critic of Euromaidan and supporter of the Yanukovych regime. Shot dead at his home in Kyiv. His killing was clearly politically motivated, as he was actively organizing opposition events.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Journalist and public figure known for his pro-Russian views and opposition to the new Ukrainian government. Shot dead near his home in Kyiv. His murder was highly publicized and politically charged.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Defense attorney representing a Russian soldier on trial in Ukraine. Abducted, tortured, and found shot dead in a shallow grave. Grabovsky had received threats for his legal work and was killed in what appeared to be a politically motivated execution.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: Partially

Civic activist and environmental whistleblower in Kharkiv region. Found hanged in a forest near his village. Official cause: suicide. Activists and local residents believe his death was staged in retaliation for his investigations into illegal waste dumping and corruption involving local authorities. Bychko had been gathering evidence against influential figures shortly before his death, and the official investigation faced widespread criticism for serious irregularities and lack of transparency.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Killed by a car bomb in central Kyiv while driving to work. Sheremet was a prominent journalist known for his investigative reporting and criticism of political elites in both Ukraine and Russia. His assassination shocked the country and drew international condemnation. He was killed for his work exposing corruption and power abuse.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Donbas war veteran and anti-corruption activist. Shot in the back at close range in a public courtyard in Berdyansk. He had openly criticized local criminal and political figures. Oleshko was known for his outspoken stance against corruption and for organizing protests exposing abuses by regional authorities. His murder was widely seen as a targeted act to silence a prominent voice of civic resistance.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: Partially

Died from severe burns after surviving a brutal acid attack outside her home in Kherson. Handziuk was a prominent civil activist and advisor to the mayor, known for exposing police corruption and criticizing local political elites. She was attacked for her anti-corruption work and her public opposition to abuses of power.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: Partially

Investigative journalist in Cherkasy. Attacked on the street with a blunt object, leaving him in a coma. Died after 46 days. Known for exposing local corruption and criminal networks. His reporting had previously drawn threats, and his murder was widely seen as an attack on press freedom.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Ukrainian Member of Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy. Found dead with a gunshot wound in the bathroom of his Kyiv office, with a firearm lying nearby. Although initially treated as a suicide, the circumstances surrounding his death — including political and financial entanglements — have raised serious doubts.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Mayor of Kryvyi Rih and member of the Opposition Platform. Found dead from a gunshot wound on his porch. Official cause: under investigation. His death remains suspicious and politically charged. Many observers and political allies questioned the suicide theory, citing inconsistencies in the evidence and suggesting possible political motives behind his death.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Ukrainian MP, formerly aligned with the ruling party but later a vocal critic. Found unresponsive in a taxi; toxicology revealed methadone in his system. Official cause: drug-induced heart failure. Circumstances remain unclear.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Local politician in Luhansk Region with pro-separatist views. Abducted from home in Ukraine-controlled Kreminna and later found shot dead. His killing occurred during the chaos of Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No

Shot outside her home in Lviv and later died from her injuries. Farion was a prominent Ukrainian nationalist, former Member of Parliament, and linguist known for her outspoken defense of the Ukrainian language and identity. Authorities arrested an 18-year-old suspect, and the killing is considered premeditated, potentially tied to her political and social activities.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No (suspect arrested, trial pending) 

Shot twice in the head in central Odesa. Hanul was a prominent Ukrainian activist, former regional leader of the Right Sector, and founder of the civic movement “Street Front.” Known for his outspoken pro-Ukrainian views and grassroots activism, he had previously survived multiple attacks. Hanul was killed for his high-profile political presence and activist work.

Killers Caught and Prosecuted: No (suspect arrested, trial pending)