Former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov, who served as a key advisor to pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych, was assassinated in broad daylight outside an exclusive Madrid school while his children were nearby.
At a Glance
- Andriy Portnov was shot multiple times in the head and back while entering his Mercedes-Benz outside the American School in Pozuelo de Alarcón, an upscale Madrid neighborhood
- Multiple assailants fled on foot to a nearby wooded area after the 9:15 am attack
- Portnov had fled Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion after previously facing investigations for treason and embezzlement
- Spanish authorities have launched a homicide investigation but have not identified suspects or motives
- The assassination is part of a troubling pattern of high-profile crimes involving Russians and Ukrainians on Spanish soil
Assassination at School Drop-Off
The assassination occurred at approximately 9:15 am outside the American School in Pozuelo de Alarcón, an affluent suburb of Madrid. Portnov had just dropped off his children at the school when multiple assailants ambushed him as he was getting into his black Mercedes-Benz. Witnesses reported that the attackers shot Portnov several times in the back and head before fleeing on foot toward a nearby wooded area. The brazen attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, with parents and children present during the morning school run.
Parents at the school described scenes of panic and disbelief as the shooting unfolded. Timur Ayaokur, who was at the school during the incident, initially believed the commotion was part of a safety drill. His wife, Elina Ayaokur, expressed her shock at the violence erupting in such an unexpected location.
“I was in shock, like how is it possible that this happens here?”, said Elina Ayaokur.
Ex-Ukrainian official with ties to pro-Russian ex-president Yanukovych was shot dead in Spain.
Andriy Portnov, 52, was fatally shot around 9:15 a.m. local time outside the American School Madrid in the wealthy suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón, where he reportedly dropped off his… https://t.co/vFMvJLQQJX
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) May 21, 2025
Portnov’s Controversial Background
Portnov served as deputy head of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration from 2010 to 2014. When Yanukovych was ousted during the Maidan Revolution, Portnov fled to Russia alongside his boss. His political career was marked by allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The U.S. Treasury Department had previously accused him of engaging in bribery to cultivate connections within Ukraine’s judicial and law enforcement sectors, effectively working to manipulate the country’s legal system for political purposes.
“Portnov took steps to control the Ukrainian judiciary, influence associated legislation, sought to place loyal officials in senior judiciary positions, and purchase court decisions”, said US Treasury department.
Following his departure from Ukraine, Portnov lived in Austria before briefly returning to Ukraine in 2019. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he fled the country again. In Ukraine, he faced investigations for treason and embezzlement and was targeted by EU sanctions, which were later dropped. It remains unclear if Portnov was involved in any recent political activities prior to his assassination.
❗️🇺🇦⚔️🇷🇺 – Andriy Portnov, a former advisor to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot on the morning of May 21, 2025, near the American School in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a suburb of Madrid. The incident was reported by Spanish radio station Cadena SER.… pic.twitter.com/XP8I21tOe0
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) May 21, 2025
Spanish Investigation Underway
Spanish authorities have launched a comprehensive homicide investigation into Portnov’s killing. Police have confirmed that multiple attackers were involved in the assassination, though no suspects have been publicly identified. The method of the killing – a targeted shooting in a public place followed by a quick escape – bears the hallmarks of a professional hit. Law enforcement officials are examining various potential motives, including Portnov’s past political associations and alleged criminal activities.
“Several people shot him in the back and the head and then fled towards a forested area”, a source at Spain’s interior ministry.
Pattern of Violence on Spanish Soil
This assassination marks the second high-profile political shooting in Madrid in recent years, following an attack on Spanish politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras in 2023. Spain has experienced several incidents involving Russians and Ukrainians amid rising geopolitical tensions. These include a series of letter bombings targeting Ukrainian diplomatic missions and the shooting of a Russian helicopter pilot who had defected to Ukraine. The growing number of such incidents raises concerns about Spain becoming a battleground for Eastern European political violence.
Alvaro Fernandez Garcia, a local resident, expressed the community’s dismay at such violence occurring in their neighborhood, saying, “We usually see this on the news, or in other countries.” The assassination has left the typically peaceful Pozuelo de Alarcón community deeply shaken, with increased security measures implemented at the American School and surrounding areas as the investigation continues.
