A former Ukrainian politician was shot dead outside an elite American school in Madrid’s wealthy Pozuelo de Alarcon suburb. Andriy Portnov, 51, was a senior aide to pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted in 2014. Police found him with multiple gunshot wounds and are investigating the incident.
Portnov had faced investigations in Ukraine over accusations of treason and embezzlement before fleeing to Russia in 2014. He was later targeted by European Union sanctions but those were dropped.
US authorities have also imposed sanctions on Portnov, accusing him of using bribery to build connections with Ukraine’s judicial system. The American School said it believed the victim was a father of children at the school, but police are waiting for formal identification.
This incident is part of a growing trend of high-profile crimes related to Russia and Ukraine in Spain, where significant expatriate communities from both countries reside. A retired Spanish civil servant was convicted last year for sending letter bombs targeting government offices and embassies.
Police are still investigating the murder of another Russian pilot who was found dead with gunshot wounds in Spain in February 2024.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-ex-politician-shot-dead-outside-madrids-american-school-source-says-2025-05-21