Overview

• Andriy Portnov, a former top adviser to ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot on May 21, 2025, in Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid.
• The attack occurred near an American school where Portnov was reportedly dropping off his children; the assailants fled into a wooded area, leaving no immediate suspects.
• Spanish police have launched an investigation, with organized crime emerging as a primary focus, though no arrests have been made so far.
• Ukrainian media have speculated about potential involvement by Kyiv’s intelligence services, but these claims remain unverified and disputed.
• Portnov, a polarizing figure, had faced U.S. sanctions in 2021 and was previously accused of pro-Russian ties, though he successfully challenged EU sanctions in court.