Madrid, Spain – Former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov was shot and killed outside an elite international school in a wealthy suburb of Madrid on Wednesday morning, according to a source close to the police investigation cited by Reuters.
Authorities responded to an emergency call at approximately 9:15 a.m. local time (0715 GMT) reporting the fatal shooting of a Ukrainian national near the American School of Madrid in Pozuelo de Alarcón. While Spanish police have not publicly confirmed the identity of the victim, the source indicated it was Portnov.
Portnov served as a top aide to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted during the 2014 Euromaidan revolution. He had been living in exile in recent years.
The circumstances surrounding the killing remain unclear, with investigators working to determine whether a lone gunman or multiple assailants were involved.
The incident marks the latest in a troubling series of violent events involving prominent Russian and Ukrainian figures residing in Spain, a country that hosts sizeable expatriate communities from both nations.
Following the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Spain has witnessed multiple high-profile incidents:
- In late 2022, a series of six letter bombs were sent to various government and diplomatic targets, including the offices of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid, and the U.S. Embassy. A 76-year-old retired Spanish civil servant was later arrested and convicted for the attacks, with investigations revealing his online activity showed apparent pro-Russian leanings.
- In April 2022, a Russian executive associated with the gas company Novatek was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, alongside his wife and daughter, who had suffered fatal stab wounds.
- In February 2024, a Russian pilot who had defected to Ukraine was found shot dead in the underground parking garage of his residence near Alicante.
Spanish authorities have yet to comment on any potential political motives or connections in the Portnov case. The investigation remains ongoing.
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