Former Ukrainian politician shot dead outside Madrid school

Andriy Portnov, previously a senior aide to former Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovich, was gunned down outside a school in Madrid, raising concerns about politically motivated violence in Spain.

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian politician, outside the American School of Madrid in the affluent suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón on Wednesday, Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed.

Portnov, 51, once served as a senior aide to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and fled to Russia in 2014 following a popular uprising. He was under investigation in Ukraine for alleged treason and embezzlement, and was sanctioned by both the European Union and the United States, though EU measures were later lifted. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in 2021, citing ties to Ukraine's judicial system built through corruption.

According to police, Portnov was shot multiple times - in the back and head - by several attackers who then fled into a nearby wooded area. Emergency services found him dead at the scene near a black Mercedes-Benz, with police cordoning off the area. The attack occurred around 9:15 a.m. local time, as students and parents were arriving at the school.

Sources at the American School told Reuters that the victim is believed to have been the parent of a student, although official identification is still pending. Authorities interviewed several parents who reportedly witnessed the shooting. The school has not released a public statement.

Portnov’s killing adds to a recent string of high-profile incidents involving Russian and Ukrainian nationals in Spain. In early 2024, a Russian pilot who had defected to Ukraine was shot dead near Alicante. In 2022, a Spanish man sent letter bombs to political and diplomatic targets, including the Ukrainian embassy.

Spanish authorities have launched a full investigation into Portnov’s death, but have not yet confirmed a motive or suspects.

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