Former Ukrainian nationalist MP Iryna Farion has died after being shot on the street in the western city of Lviv. The 60-year-old linguistics professor, known for her controversial stance against the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, was attacked on Friday, prompting an investigation by police who suspect it may have been a targeted attack.

The assailant has not been identified, and police reported that a power outage affected CCTV in the area, complicating the investigation. Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed on Telegram that Ms. Farion succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that the killing was not spontaneous and that police are exploring several motives, including Farion’s social and political activities and potential personal animosities. He did not rule out the possibility that the murder was commissioned.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the violence on Telegram, asserting that those responsible for the attack must be held accountable.

Ms. Farion was a member of the hardline nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) political party, which blamed Russia for her killing, stating, “Moscow shoots in the temple for the Ukrainian language.”

In 2023, Ms. Farion sparked controversy by declaring that true Ukrainian patriots should not speak Russian, even on the front lines, as it is the language of the aggressor. Her remarks provoked a significant backlash in Ukraine, leading to accusations of inciting linguistic hatred. She was dismissed from her university position in western Ukraine and investigated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). In May, the Lviv Court of Appeal reportedly reinstated her to her position.