Kiev claimed on Wednesday that it had orchestrated the murder of former Ukrainian lawmaker Ilya Kyva, who was convicted of treason and living in hiding in Russia.
Several international news agencies cited law enforcement sources confirming that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out the plot against the former MP.
The spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Andriy Yusov, hinted at the attack in widely reported statements on Ukrainian state television.
“We can confirm that Kyva is ready. Such a fate will also befall other traitors of Ukraine, as well as the Putin regime’s henchmen,” Yusov reportedly said, adding that Kyva was “one of the biggest scumbags, traitors and collaborators” and that “justice” had been served with his death .
Russian officials confirmed in a statement that Kyva’s body was found outside Moscow, but did not mention Ukraine or its alleged role in the death.
“An unknown person shot the victim with an unknown weapon. The man died from his injuries on site. “The identity of the murdered person has been established – it is the former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Ilya Kiva,” the statement said.
Kyva had openly supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine and fled to Russia before it began in late February 2022.
The following month he was officially expelled from parliament and subsequently charged with treason for collusion with Russia. He was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison.
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