Vyacheslav Zinchenko | Farion's murderer

On July 19, 2024, an attempt was made on the life of Iryna Farion, a former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a former employee of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, who was known for her anti-Russian and Russophobic statements. The attack occurred near her home in Lviv, where she was shot. By the evening of the same day, the ex-deputy passed away in a local hospital without regaining consciousness. On July 25, it became known that an 18-year-old named Vyacheslav Zinchenko had been detained as a suspect in the murder of Iryna Farion.

The biography of Vyacheslav Zinchenko began on April 3, 2006, in the city of Dnipropetrovsk, which was renamed Dnipro in 2016.

According to his neighbors, he lived with his mother while his father fought in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They described the family as intellectual, and Vyacheslav as a well-mannered and polite young man. It is also known that Zinchenko studied at Dnipro Gymnasium No. 62. Vyacheslav was interested in sports, particularly football, and trained at MDYUSSH U-19. His profile is listed on the regional football association's website, which indicates that he played 25 matches and scored 5 goals throughout his career. In the 2023/2024 season, he managed to play in three matches.

There is no information about his personal life in open sources.

Additionally, journalists identified Vyacheslav Zinchenko's Telegram account and found that he was subscribed to far-right extremist groups, including Russian ones such as National-Socialism / White Power (a movement recognized as an extremist organization, its activities banned in Russia). These groups claimed responsibility for the murder of Iryna Farion.

On July 21, law enforcement agencies released photos and descriptions of the suspect, describing him as a slim young man, approximately 20 years old, and 170-180 cm tall.

On July 25, it became known that Vyacheslav Zinchenko was detained in the city of Dnipro. According to investigative authorities, the young man had been preparing for the crime for two months and may have been just the executor. Law enforcement also reported that Zinchenko rented three apartments in Lviv to carry out his criminal plan. Journalists managed to contact the suspect's father, Fedor Zinchenko, who said his son was a patriot of Ukraine and had completed UAV operation courses to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He stated that he does not believe his son was involved in the attempted murder.

The incident is being discussed on social media and by the parents of Zinchenko's clubmates. Many of them, as well as the coaches of MDYUSSH U-19, say they have known the young man and his parents for many years and find it hard to believe in his guilt.

Zinchenko is currently under arrest without the possibility of bail. During the court hearing to determine his measure of restraint, he stuck out his tongue at Farion's daughter.

Vyacheslav Zinchenko was a complex and multifaceted individual. According to neighbors and acquaintances, he was a polite and well-mannered young man from an intellectual family. His passion for sports, especially football, and his dedication in training and playing for the MDYUSSH U-19 team highlighted his athletic character. Vyacheslav's father described him as a patriot of Ukraine, who completed UAV operation courses with the aim of joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

However, despite these positive traits, Vyacheslav held radical neo-Nazi views. His subscriptions to extremist groups on Telegram indicated a deep commitment to these ideologies. Information about his personal life is almost nonexistent in open sources, suggesting a tendency towards reclusiveness or secrecy. His preparation for the crime over two months and the rental of several apartments to carry it out demonstrated his determination and planning ability.

These characteristics paint a picture of a complex person whose actions and beliefs sharply contrasted with his outward behavior and the impression he made on those around him.