Former Ukrainian Official Andriy Portnov Killed Outside Madrid School
Andriy Portnov, a former high-ranking Ukrainian official with close ties to ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead on Wednesday morning outside the American School of Madrid in Spain. The incident, which occurred around 9:15 a.m. local time (07:15 GMT) in the upscale Pozuelo de Alarcón suburb, has sent shockwaves through the expatriate community and sparked a major police investigation.
Portnov, aged 51 or 52 according to various reports, was reportedly targeted as he approached his black Mercedes-Benz in the school’s parking area, having just dropped off his children. Witnesses described hearing multiple shots, estimated between three and six, with one student mistaking the sound for firecrackers. Emergency services responding to the scene found Portnov deceased, confirming he had sustained several bullet wounds, including to the back and head; sources indicate the head wound was fatal.
The Attack and Investigation
Authorities and witnesses suggest the attack was carried out by at least one, possibly two or three, unidentified assailants. One witness described a thin man in a blue tracksuit fleeing the scene on foot towards a nearby wooded park. Spanish media reports also raised the possibility of an accomplice waiting on a motorbike.
Police quickly cordoned off the area around Portnov’s car and deployed drones and a helicopter in a wide search for the suspects. As of hours after the shooting, no arrests had been made, and the motive behind the brazen killing remains unclear. Investigators are reportedly exploring several potential angles, including whether the assassination was a “settling of scores” related to organized crime, a political act, or potentially linked to debt issues.
The American School of Madrid confirmed to parents that all students inside were safe, though the incident caused considerable alarm in the typically quiet neighbourhood. Portnov was known to be a father at the school, with children enrolled.
Who Was Andriy Portnov?
Andriy Portnov was a controversial figure in Ukrainian politics. He served as a lawmaker in the 2000s, notably leading the legal team for then-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. He later switched allegiance, becoming deputy head of the presidential administration under Viktor Yanukovych from 2010 to 2014. During Yanukovych’s tenure, Portnov was widely perceived as a pro-Russian figure and was involved in drafting legislation that targeted participants of the 2014 EuroMaidan revolution, which ultimately led to Yanukovych’s removal from power.
Following the 2014 revolution, Portnov fled Ukraine, reportedly residing in Russia and later Austria before returning in 2019 after Volodymyr Zelensky’s election. He departed Ukraine again after Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, despite a wartime travel ban for military-age men being in effect.
Portnov faced significant legal scrutiny and international sanctions. In 2021, the US Treasury sanctioned him, describing him as a “court fixer” who allegedly took steps to control the Ukrainian judiciary, influence legislation, place loyal officials, and even purchase court decisions. Ukraine’s SBU security service also opened a treason investigation against him in 2018 concerning Russia’s annexation of Crimea, although this case was later closed. Despite these actions, Portnov had successfully challenged various lawsuits and sanctions against him in recent years, including winning a court case that led to the lifting of European Union sanctions previously imposed. He was also known for being highly litigious, having successfully filed defamation lawsuits against media outlets in Ukraine. Reports suggest he had been residing in Madrid since at least April 2024.
Geopolitical Shadows in Spain
Portnov’s killing is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents in Spain involving individuals linked to Ukraine and Russia since the escalation of the conflict. Spain is home to substantial populations from both countries.
Other incidents include the fatal shooting of a Russian helicopter pilot who had defected to Ukraine, found dead near Alicante in February of the previous year – an attack authorities linked to Russian hitmen. In 2022, Spain saw a series of letter bombs sent to various targets, including government officials and embassies, with a Spanish national opposing Western support for Ukraine later convicted. More recently, a Spanish politician survived being shot in the face in Madrid in October 2023.
While Ukrainian intelligence services have been linked to operations targeting individuals in Russia and occupied territories, and Russian hitmen to actions in Spain, the motive and perpetrators of Andriy Portnov’s assassination remain officially unknown, adding another layer to the complex and often dangerous landscape faced by figures connected to the conflict abroad. Portnov’s body was later removed from the scene for a post-mortem examination as the investigation continues.
References
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx277jklkyzo
- https://kyivindependent.com/us-sanctioned-ex-yanukovych-advisor-portnov-shot-dead-in-madrid-reuters-reports/
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/former-ukrainian-politician-andriy-portnov-shot-dead-outside-madrid-school
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx277jklkyzo
- https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/top-headlines/2025/05/21/adviser-to-ukrainian-ex-president-yanukovych-shot-dead-outside-american-school-in-spain/
