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Pro-Russian Former Ukrainian Politician Assassinated Outside Madrid School

Andriy Portnov, a sanctioned ex-aide to Viktor Yanukovych, was fatally shot by a motorbike-riding gunman while dropping off his children at the American School of Madrid.

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Members of the judicial police at the scene after an adviser to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was shot, outside a school in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
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Sanctioned Ukrainian ex-politician shot dead outside Madrid's American school

Overview

  • Andriy Portnov, 51, was shot five times outside the American School in Madrid's affluent Pozuelo de Alarcón neighborhood at 9:15 AM local time.
  • The assailant, described as a 'tall, thin man,' fled the scene on a motorbike, prompting a Spanish police manhunt and investigation into the targeted killing.
  • Portnov, a pro-Russian figure and former aide to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2021 for alleged corruption and judicial interference.
  • The school was placed on lockdown following the shooting, with officials confirming all students and staff are safe and the site is secure.
  • Sources suggest the killing may have been a revenge hit, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions spilling into European exile communities.