Russian Ex-Member of Parliament Voronenkov Killed in Kyiv Centre: UPDATED

March 23rd, 2017 ex-member of Russian Duma Denis Voronenkov was shot in Kyiv near Premier Palace hotel. He was recently granted Ukrainian citizenship and was a witness in Ukrainian ex-president Viktor Yanukovich court case.

Follow Hromadske's live updates. 

READ MORE: 7 Facts About Russian Lawmaker Killed in Ukraine

24th of March, 1:56pm Kyiv time: Voronenkov’s murderer has been identified as 28-year-old man from Sevastopol, Pavel Parshov. Murderer served in National Guard of Ukraine for 13 month. His colleagues are yet to comment on this. This information was made public by Anton Herashenko, an adviser to Ukraine's Interior Minister.

3.54 pm, Kyiv time: The murderer died. The Senior doctor at the hospital he was admited to stated, Hromadske's correspondent says.

3:10 pm, Kyiv time: Today Voronenkov was supposed to give evidence at the Military Prosecutor’s office.

3:08 pm, Kyiv time: The Security Service are tracking the car driven by Voronenkov’s killer.

‘The killer drove a Daewoo. We are now tracking the car’s movements with all means at our disposal,’ said Lutsenko.

3:06 pm, Kyiv time: The documents found on the killer show that he was a Ukrainian citizen. However, Lutsenko has said that it is necessary to establish whether or not the documents are authentic.

2:57 pm, Kyiv time: Lutsenko said that Voronenkov was under state protection.

‘Voronenkov was under the supervision of someone from the Ukrainian Security Services. He definitely gave witness in Yanukovych’s case. His murder, not to seem cynical, shows that we are on the right track, that have struck at the heart of the Kremlin. I want to remind those who ordered the killing, that this will not stop the investigation and that his testimony will be used,’ said Lutsenko.

2:55 pm, Kyiv time: MP Ponomarev said that Voronenkov had previously been shot at in Russia

‘Denis was valuable to Ukraine, he knew a lot, and about the financial contributions for the Putin administration, the ‘Three Whales’ case, that was his. Denis had a lot of enemies in these cases, they also shot at him in Russia,’ he said.

2:51 pm, Kyiv time: The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Yuriy Lutskenko, stated that Voronenkov was killed by a ‘hired professional killer’.

The killer put a bullet in Voronenkov’s neck, two bullets in his facial area and one more in his stomach, according to Lutsenko.

“Around 20 shells were removed from the scene, as well as a TT gun,” - he added.

According to Lutskenko, the killer received a penetrating wound to head and is near death.

2.51 pm, Kyiv time: The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Yuriy Lutskenko, stated that Voronenkov was killed by a ‘hired professional killer’.

The killer put a bullet in Voronenkov’s neck, two bullets in his facial area and one more in his stomach, according to Lutsenko.

“Around 20 shells were removed from the scene, as well as a TT gun,” - he added.

According to Lutsenko, the killer received a penetrating wound to head and is near death.

Former Russian MP Denis Voronenkov was killed near the ‘Premier Palace’ in the center of Kyiv. He had previously obtained Ukrainian citizenship and was a witness in the case of the ex-Ukrainian president, Victor Yanukovych’s treason.

2:15 pm, Kyiv time: Press-secretary to the Russian president, Dmitrii Peskov states that the killing of Voronenkov speaks for the fact that ‘Ukraine could not guarantee his safety’.

According to Peskov, the Kremlin hoped that ‘the killer and those responsible are found’.

“We think that any fabrications about Russian involvement are absurd,” he added.

2:10 pm, Kyiv time: The head of Kyiv police Andriy Kryschenko says that police officers have not spoke to detained killer and a security guard of killed Voronenkov.

“Both of them are now in the hospital and receiving treatment,” said the head of the Kyiv police.

2:00 pm, Kyiv time: “A killer open-fired, he wounded the security guard, and while he fled, the security guard also wounded the attacker with several shots,” said the head of the Kyiv police, Andriy Kryschenko.

He also added that a TT gun was found at the scene.

Police removed all the video recordings from the streets. The identity of killer has not been estabished.

It is thought to be a contract murder connected to Voronenkov’s political activity.

1:50 pm, Kyiv time: According to Anton Heraschenko, Voronenkov’s security guard in is hospital and is in critical condition.

1:45 pm, Kyiv time: The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko called the murder of the former MP, Denis Voronenkov ‘an act of terrorism on Russia’s part’

1:42 pm, Kyiv time: Voronenko’s body was removed.

1:40 pm, Kyiv time:  Voronenkov’s wife arriveed at the site of the murder.

1:35 pm, Kyiv time: Chief Military Prosecutor, Matios stayed behind. They prepare to remove body.

1:25 pm, Kyiv time: The first video appeared. It was taken straight after the murder of Voronenko. The killer is visible in the video, as well as  passers-by saying ‘He is still alive’.

1:20 pm, Kyiv time: The head of the SBU, Vasyl Hrytsak, arrived at the scene of the murder.

1:17 pm, Kyiv time: Dmitrii Peskov, press-secretary to the President of the Russian Federation commented on the murder of Voronenkov. He said, ‘This is not our topic, what is there for us to comment on?’

1:15 pm, Kyiv time: Public sources told Hromadske, Voronenkov’s guard was provided to him by the state.

1:10 pm, Kyiv time: Prosecutor General Lutsenko said that the murder of the former MP Denis Voronenkov is a ‘conventional example of the Kremlin executing the witness’.

1:05 pm, Kyiv time: Denis Voronenkov planned to meet with fellow former Russian MP Ilya Ponomarev. They were both witnesses in Yanukovych’s case. Ponomarev said this himself.

12:55 pm, Kyiv time: The Prosecutor Gerenal of Ukraine, Yuriy Lutsenko arrived at the scene.

12:40 pm, Kyiv time:  Voronekov’s killer is in hospital under guard, he was wounded by the security guard of the former MP.

12:30 pm, Kyiv time: Voronenkov left the hotel with his security guard. An unkown man open-fired at him. He was killed and the security guard was wounded. The security was able to fire at and wound the attacker.