Law enforcement officials have changed the classification of the crime in the case of the murder of public activist Iryna Farion. The materials have been forwarded to court. This was reported by the press service of the National Police.
18-year-old Vyacheslav Zinchenko from Dnipro is now charged with intentional murder committed in connection with the victim's performance of a public duty, motivated by national intolerance, as well as illegal handling of weapons.
The investigation has established that in 2022, the suspect joined a messaging group that promoted violence, cruelty, and racial, national, and religious hatred. In 2024, he became a member of another group linked to a Russian neo-Nazi organization.
Due to Iryna Farion's active stance on protecting the Ukrainian language, the suspect developed a personal animosity towards her, believing that she "was dividing the unity of the people." This became the motive for the intentional murder.
The suspect carefully prepared for the crime: he gathered information about the public activist's place of residence and work, monitored her, created a detailed attack plan, and acquired firearms.
On July 19, around 19:20, the suspect attacked Iryna Farion in the courtyard of her home on Masaryka Street in Lviv. He shot her in the head and fled. The victim was taken to the hospital, but she died from her injuries.
Several days later, on July 25, law enforcement apprehended the perpetrator in Dnipro under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
On December 25, the indictment was sent to court. Zinchenko was charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons);
- Paragraphs 8 and 14 of Part 2 of Article 115 (intentional murder of a person in connection with the performance of a public duty, motivated by national intolerance).
The suspect faces life imprisonment.