Sanctioned Ex-Ukrainian Politician Andriy Portnov Shot Dead Outside Madrid School

Former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov, once a key aide to pro-Russian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead outside The American School of Madrid in a brazen daylight attack, according to Spanish police.

Deadly Shooting in Upscale Suburb

The shooting occurred around 9:15 a.m. local time in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a wealthy suburb just west of the Spanish capital. Portnov, 51, was reportedly ambushed as he approached his car. Gunmen fired multiple shots, striking him in the back and head before fleeing into a nearby wooded area.

The incident took place shortly after the morning school drop-off. A source close to the school confirmed that urgent messages were sent to parents, assuring them that all students were safe. Portnov is believed to have been the father of a student at the school, which serves over 1,000 children from the U.S., Spain, and dozens of other countries.

Controversial Figure With a Checkered Past

Portnov was no stranger to controversy. In 2021, the U.S. sanctioned him under the Magnitsky Act, accusing him of corruption, bribery, and manipulating Ukraine’s judicial system to serve personal and political interests. The Treasury Department described him as “credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine’s courts.”

Canada had already frozen his assets in 2014, labeling him part of a network of “corrupt foreign officials.” Despite these international sanctions, Ukraine never imposed its own measures against him.

Portnov held powerful roles under Yanukovych’s administration, including deputy head of the presidential office and director of judicial reform. He also served on the board of Ukraine’s central bank.

Exile, Return, and Renewed Scrutiny

After the 2014 Maidan revolution that ousted Yanukovych and aligned Ukraine more closely with Europe, Portnov fled to Russia with other top officials. He made a return to Ukraine in 2019, but his reappearance drew public outcry.

In late 2024, Ukrainian journalists and civil society groups launched a petition demanding sanctions on Portnov, accusing him of trying to maintain influence over the judiciary and harassing investigative reporters. The petition, which gathered 25,000 signatures, was ultimately rejected by the government due to “insufficient grounds.”

A Pattern of Violence?

Portnov’s death is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving allies of Yanukovych. In 2015, two men linked to the former president—a member of parliament and a pro-Russian journalist—were shot dead in Kyiv. Around the same time, three other former MPs were found dead in their homes, in what authorities described as apparent suicides. These deaths sparked widespread speculation about a campaign to eliminate figures tied to the Yanukovych regime.

Open Questions Remain

Spanish authorities have not released information on possible suspects or motives, and the investigation is ongoing. The targeted nature of the attack and Portnov’s high-profile history have raised alarm bells about potential political motivations.

As the international community watches closely, the killing underscores the long shadow cast by Ukraine’s post-revolution political battles—ones that, for some, have followed them far beyond the country’s borders.