Andriy Portnov, a former aide to ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot outside a school in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. Witnesses reported multiple gunshots as he dropped off his children. Authorities are investigating, with no suspects identified yet.
Former Ukrainian Official Murdered Near Madrid School in Daylight Attack
Former Ukrainian Official Murdered Near Madrid School in Daylight Attack
Andriy Portnov, a controversial figure from Ukraine's past, was shot dead outside an American school in Madrid, raising questions about the motives behind the attack.
On Wednesday morning, a former high-ranking Ukrainian official was shot dead outside an American school in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. Andriy Portnov, 51, had just dropped his children off at the school when an unidentified assailant opened fire on him in the school parking area. Witnesses claim they heard five to six shots, and one student initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks.
Portnov, who had served as a deputy head in the administration of Viktor Yanukovych—a pro-Russian leader ousted in the 2014 protests—was known for his controversial past. After his exit from Ukraine following the revolution, he briefly returned in 2019 before leaving once again. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for his involvement in controlling the judiciary and undermining reform efforts in Ukraine.
Following the attack around 09:15 local time, law enforcement was deployed to search for the assailant, who reportedly fled towards a nearby public park. Witness accounts describe a thin man in a blue tracksuit possibly escaping on a motorbike with an accomplice. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Local emergency services confirmed that Portnov sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back and head. His luxury car was cordoned off as investigators combed the area for evidence. The school assured parents that all students were safe amid the chaos.
Interestingly, recent similar incidents have raised suspicions of targeted assassinations involving former officials and defectors. Previously in February of last year, a Russian pilot, who had defected to Ukraine, was murdered in Spain, highlighting a possible pattern of politically motivated attacks in the region.
Portnov faced various legal battles throughout his career, managing to challenge lawsuits in Ukraine and overseas. Despite EU sanctions and investigations by Ukraine's SBU security service regarding suspected treason over Crimea's annexation, the case against him was ultimately dropped, illustrating the complexities surrounding his political legacy.
