Andriy Portnov, a former top aide to Ukraine’s ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot on May 21 outside the American School of Madrid, igniting fears of a politically motivated assassination on European soil.
At a Glance
- Portnov was shot multiple times outside his car in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, by at least two unidentified assailants.
- Spanish authorities are investigating possible political or organized crime motives.
- Portnov had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for corruption and interference in Ukraine’s judiciary.
- He had fled Ukraine multiple times and most recently resettled in Spain after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
- No suspects have been apprehended as of May 21; investigations are ongoing.
A Controversial Exile Assassinated
On the morning of May 21, 2025, Andriy Portnov was ambushed and killed outside the American School of Madrid in the affluent suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón. Portnov, 50, was shot several times in the head and back as he approached his black Mercedes-Benz after dropping off his children. Witnesses reported the attackers fled on foot into a nearby wooded area, according to The Guardian’s coverage.
Portnov’s name has long been associated with Ukraine’s era of Kremlin-aligned governance. He served from 2010 to 2014 as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Viktor Yanukovych and played a prominent role in reshaping the judiciary. The U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2021 accused him of using his position to influence court rulings, plant loyal judges, and even purchase favorable decisions, according to a report by the New York Times.
Watch a report: Portnov shot dead outside Madrid school in suspected hit.
Motives Under Scrutiny
Though no group has claimed responsibility, the precision of the attack has led investigators to suspect a targeted hit rather than a random act of violence. A source from Spain’s Interior Ministry told Al Jazeera that several individuals opened fire at close range before disappearing into a nearby park.
The motive remains unclear, though officials are exploring theories ranging from retaliation over Portnov’s political past to possible involvement in unresolved international disputes. Spain has witnessed several high-profile attacks in recent years tied to individuals from conflict zones, including the 2022 letter-bomb incidents and the assassination of a Russian defector in Málaga.
With no arrests or clear leads, the killing has unsettled Madrid’s international community, raising fears that the shadow of Eastern European power struggles has reached the heart of Spain.
Legacy of a Divisive Operative
Portnov’s political journey reflects Ukraine’s post-Soviet turbulence. After fleeing to Russia during the 2014 Maidan uprising, he briefly returned to Ukraine in 2019, only to leave again after the 2022 Russian invasion. His presence in Spain had gone largely unnoticed—until now.
As authorities continue to probe the killing, questions swirl not just about who ordered the hit, but what secrets Portnov may have taken with him. For now, one thing is certain: his violent death has left an indelible mark on the quiet streets of Madrid—and may signal deeper undercurrents in the battle over Ukraine’s future.
For further reading, see The Guardian’s full report.
